Do young women travellers really consider the risk of sexual harassment during night travel? Evening travel vs midnight travel

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of benefits and risks for young women travellers on their intention to visit other night tourism destinations. It also compares any path differences between evening and midnight travels. Design/methodology/approach A face-to-face survey was conducted in Macau. Multi-group analysis was used to explore the differences between evening and midnight travels. Findings Emotional and epistemic benefits positively affect behavioural intentions; security risk negatively affects behavioural intentions, but the risk of sexual harassment does not affect behavioural intentions. Evening travellers pay more attention to emotional benefits than midnight travellers. Originality/value This study contributes to tourism research related to women by helping to understand the perceptions of the benefits and risks of young women travellers’ night tourism, especially the gender risks. This study corrects the understanding that young women travellers do not feel that the risk of sexual harassment affects their decision to undertake night travels. It also contributes to night tourism research by distinguishing the proportion of benefits and risks in evening and midnight travels.