Intention to visit a destination from the perspective of broken windows theory

Abstract

Tourism activities inherently require safe and secure environments. The Broken Windows Theory puts forward the notion that, in time, small-scale disorders in the region transform into major crimes. These disorders could also hinder tourism activities by paving the way for the convenient condition of crime and creating fear of offense among prospective visitors. In this study, Kadifekale in the province of İzmir which has the potential of being part of a cultural route is evaluated through the Broken Windows Theory. Within the scope of this study, the physical and social disorder around the castle, fear of crime, and fear of visit were investigated through Partial Least Squares based Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to reveal whether they have impacts on the intention to visit and recommendation. Fear of visit which is predominantly shaped by perceived disorders and fear of crime causes negative impacts on the intentions of potential tourists.