The Perceived Safety and Security and Its Influence on Youth Travel Intention

Travel has become a significant activity among the youth for recreation, socialization, and adventure. Nevertheless, the youth do not choose to travel without considering safety. Recently, there has been a rise in concerns regarding accidents, health, infrastructure, and psychological stress. As a result, perceived safety and security have emerged as significant considerations that shape the intention of youth travel.
Perceived safety and security comprise four broad constructs: physical safety, health safety, infrastructure safety, and psychological safety. Physical safety pertains to protection against accidents and crime. Health safety pertains to cleanliness, hygiene, and health care. Infrastructure safety pertains to safe and functional facilities and transport. Psychological safety pertains to perceptions of comfort, trust, and lack of fear associated with traveling. The four constructs are the independent variables of this research.
The dependent variable of this study is youth travel intention, which indicates the young generation’s willingness to engage in travel activities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of physical safety, health safety, infrastructure safety, and psychological safety on youth travel intention. This is significant for tourism planners to design a safe environment for youth travel. This study will also assist in determining which factor has the most significant effect on youth decisions. The results of this study can offer valuable insights into how travel safety policies can be improved. Moreover, this study can help improve the understanding of youth travel behaviour in the tourism sector.

NA

1. Aburumman, A., Abou-Shouk, M., Zouair, N., & Abdel-Jalil, M. (2025). The effect of health-perceived risks on domestic travel intention: The moderating role of destination image. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 25(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584231172376 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aimon, H., & Zulvianti, N. (2023). Do Sustainable Tourism Development, Psychological Safety, and Halal Friendly Destination Performance Lead to Tourist Electronic Word of Mouth? The Role of Tourist Satisfaction. International Journal of Sustainable Development & Planning, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180421 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Cândido, L. F., Araújo, D. de S., Leocádio, Á. L., Guimarães, D. B., & Ponchio, M. C. (2024). Sustainable behavior in nature tourism travel: The influence of local infrastructure. Revista de Administração Da UFSM, 17, e3. https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465984320 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Carver, A., Timperio, A., Hesketh, K., & Crawford, D. (2010). Are safety-related features of the road environment associated with smaller declines in physical activity among youth? Journal of Urban Health, 87(1), 29–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-009-9402-3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-009-9402-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Chen, J., May, D. R., Schwoerer, C. E., & Augelli, B. (2018). Exploring the boundaries of career calling: The moderating roles of procedural justice and psychological safety. Journal of Career Development, 45(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845316671214. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845316671214 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Fuchs, G., Efrat-Treister, D., & Westphal, M. (2024). When, where, and with whom during crisis: The effect of risk perceptions and psychological distance on travel intentions. Tourism Management, 100, 104809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104809 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Golets, A., Farias, J., Pilati, R., & Costa, H. (2023). COVID-19 pandemic and tourism: The impact of health risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty on travel intentions. Current Psychology, 42(3), 2500–2513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02560-4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Gupta, A., Gupta, D. R., & Arora, N. (2010b). The relationship between perceived travel risk, travel safety, travel anxiety and intentions to travel: A path analysis study of domestic traveller in India. International Journal of Tourism and Travel, 3(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354210X12645141401269 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Hagel, B. E., Macpherson, A., Howard, A., Fuselli, P., Cloutier, M.-S., Winters, M., Richmond, S. A., Rothman, L., Belton, K., & Buliung, R. (2019). The built environment and active transportation safety in children and youth: A study protocol. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 728. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7089-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hanafiah, M. H., Md Zain, N. A., Azinuddin, M., & Mior Shariffuddin, N. S. (2021). I’m afraid to travel! Investigating the effect of perceived health risk on Malaysian travellers’ post-pandemic perception and future travel intention. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-10-2021-0235 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Hennessey, S. M., Yun, D., & MacDonald, R. (2010). Determinants of Travel Intentions to a eighboring Destination. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1617370 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hirschorn, S., & Hefferon, K. (2013). Leaving it all behind to travel: Venturing uncertainty as a means to personal growth and authenticity. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 53(3), 283–306. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167813483007 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Jalilvand, M. R., Samiei, N., Dini, B., & Manzari, P. Y. (2012). Examining the structural relationships of electronic word of mouth, destination image, tourist attitude toward destination and travel intention: An integrated approach. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 1(1–2), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2012.10.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kaplanidou, K., & Vogt, C. (2006). A structural analysis of destination travel intentions as a function of web site features. Journal of Travel Research, 45(2), 204–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287506291599 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Lee, B. K., Agarwal, S., & Kim, H. J. (2012). Influences of travel constraints on the people with disabilities’ intention to travel: An application of Seligman’s helplessness theory. Tourism Management, 33(3), 569–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.06.012 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Lehto, X., Douglas, A. C., & Park, J. (2013). Mediating the effects of natural disasters on travel intention. In Safety and security in Tourism (pp. 29–43). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1300/J073v23n02_03 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Mahpour, A., Heshami, S., Baghestani, A., & Eftekhari, A. (2026). Road travel satisfaction: Role of quality, experience & intention. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 36, 101826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101826 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Mehedi, M. M., Yusof, Y., & Khan, M. S. (2022). Relationship between destination image, transport infrastructure and revisit intention: Regression analysis. Albukhary Social Business Journal, 38–47. https://doi.org/10.55862/asbjv3i2a005 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mekinc, J., & Repnik, S. (2014). The Approach of Young People to Travel Safety. Journal of Tourism & Services, 5. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Novanda, R., Wibowo, H., Khaliqi, M., Sinaga, F., Darmansyah, D., Amiruddin, A., & Rani Mellya Sari, I. (2023). Influence of natural resources and infrastructure on travel intention to Tikus Island, Indonesia. 1230(1), 012030. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1230/1/012030 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Saha, P., & Roy, B. (2025). How Memorable Tourism Experiences Drive Travel Intentions Amid Health-Related Uncertainties. Tourism Review International, 29(3), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.3727/194344225X17315216889014 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Sham, R., Soltani, S. H. K., Sham, M., & Mohamed, S. (2012). Travel safety fear factor among vulnerable group of travelers: The urban scenario. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 50, 1033–1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.103 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Singleton, P. A., & Wang, L. (2014). Safety and security in discretionary travel decision making: Focus on active travel mode and destination choice. Transportation Research Record, 2430(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.3141/2430-06 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Sondel, K. (2021). The Polish safety model for child and youth tourism–legal aspects. Folia Turistica, 57, 81–106. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Su, D. N., Tran, K. P. T., Nguyen, L. N. T., Thai, T. H. T., Doan, T. H. T., & Tran, V. T. (2022). Modeling behavioral intention toward traveling in times of a health-related crisis. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 28(2), 135–151. https://doi.org/10.1177/13567667211024703 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Wang, Y., Zhu, J., Wang, X., Li, X., & Zhang, W. (2023). Navigating cross-cultural port tourism: Unleashing the psychological safety valve for risk management. Ocean & Coastal Management, 246, 106888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106888 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Wu, G., Guan, S., Xu, Y.-H., Chu, C., & Zhu, Z. (2024). The closer, the better? Impact of tourists’ psychological distance on their travel intention in the post-pandemic era. Journal of China Tourism Research, 20(3), 521–544. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2023.2232537 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Xiong, W., Xu, Y., Wen, J., Okumus, B., & Cai, X. (2025). Travel anxiety impact on the overall travel experience: A psychological perspective. Tourism Review, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-04-2025-0402 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Yuzhanin, S., & Fisher, D. (2016). The efficacy of the theory of planned behavior for predicting intentions to choose a travel destination: A review. Tourism Review, 71(2), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-11-2015-0055 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Zhou, B., Wang, Y., Li, P., Xiong, Q., & Ryan, C. (2024). A longitudinal Study on the Effect of Media Exposure on Travel Intention during Public Health Crises. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-03856-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Indirect Effect of Liquidity and Activity on Company Value with Profitability as an Intervening Variable
• Effect of Financial Skills, Knowledge, and Attitude on The Financial Behaviour of Clergy
• A Decade of Review: Trends in Budget Execution and Financial Performance of Development Projects in Tanzania (2014/15-2023/24)
• The Influence of Pre-Project Planning on the Budget Absorption Rate of Public Funded Infrastructure Projects in Kenya a Comparative Case Study of Narok, Migori, and Kisii County Government Projects
• Assessment of Factors Influencing Digital Transformation in Hotels’ Facility Management in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria