Tourists` perceptions of security in their destinations and security education in tourism

After the motive for going on a voyage has developed, there are many factors affecting the destination choice of a tourist. These include several expectations and needs. Safety is one of the priorities of a tourist when choosing his/her destination. The need of safety is one of the natural characteristics of a human being. People need to feel safe in order to live a peaceful life. In order to create demand from tourists, the first thing to do is determination of their safety perception for the country. The knowledge of how tourists perceive a region shapes marketing strategies. There are a number of factors that affect safety perception of tourists. News from media, the experiences he/she or his/her friends have faced in a country are the first ones to count. These factors play a decisive role in destination choices. For the tourists not to encounter safety and/or security problems in a country, they should be informed about their destination region. This information should include the cultural aspects of the country as well as the appropriate reaction against possible problems as consumers. In this research, first, the concept of safety has been covered from different aspects and connecting with the tourism sector; afterwards, safety issues are examined from the point of law. Lastly, tourists' safety perception about Istanbul has been putted via a survey applied to local and foreign tourists. The results of the survey show that tourists' safety perception about Istanbul varies with demographic factors such as age, gender and nationality, and some personal attributes and several experiences. It should not be forgotten that no matter how many touristy attractions there are in a country, there will be no tourist demand without safety and security. As such, setting up a safety policy in tourism is of vital importance.