The impact of oil drilling on the behavioral intention of tourists: an empirical investigation

The aim of this paper is to analyze empirically the effect that several kinds of risks, associated with hypothetical oil drillings in the Canary Islands, could have on the behavioral intentions of tourists. A panel survey collected from 639 nonresident tourists about destination image, risk perception, and intention to visit or recommend the islands. The risks associated with the possible oil extractions significantly harming perceived image and behavioral intention by around 43%, with the intention to recommend being more affected than the intention to revisit. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to develop a theoretical model following a recent trend integrating the destination image and risk literatures. Results highlight the key role of perceived risk in creating destination image and provides evidence of the mediating role of image between risk and behavioral intention. The affective image component has a greater impact on behavioral intention than the cognitive one. The outcomes of this study point out the importance, for destination marketers and policymakers, of mitigating the effects of the risk derived from oil drilling. Emphasis is placed on the importance of information and promotion campaigns in which the safety of the destination is remarked.