Mitigating simultaneous returning home after large-scale earthquakes: changing tourists’ intentions to stay through public support

A critical factor influencing tourists' decisions to return home or stay during large-scale earthquakes at Himeji Castle is the level of public support, particularly for those traveling from distant areas. The study found that proximity to one's residential area and available transportation significantly impacted behavior when combined with public support. Using decision tree analysis on 467 valid responses, researchers identified that tourists from afar were most strongly affected by public support in their behavioral intentions. This insight highlights the potential for targeted public interventions to mitigate simultaneous returns home during disasters.

Sakai, K., Toyoda, Y., & Kanegae, H. (2019). Mitigating simultaneous returning home after large-scale earthquakes: changing tourists’ intentions to stay through public support. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 361(1), 12004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/361/1/012004