Measuring Tourists’ Stress in Colombia

Abstract

This research aims to examine vacationers’ perceived stress in Colombia. Based on the literature review, the following dimensions are examined: (1) transportation at the destination –including the variables lack of control, insecurity, cleanness, noise, temperature and space; (2) the conditions of the accommodation –including the variables lack of sleep, insecurity, distance to sightseeing, cleanness and the perceived quality of the room, the services and the food; and (3) the behavior and culture of the locals at the destination –including the variables language proximity, insecurity, the way the locals prepare the good, litter and noise. A quantitative research was performed, based on 651 foreign travelers in the capital of Colombia. The results show that a second-order model, which includes nine factors and three dimensions, presents the highest goodness-of-fit indices. As a part of the conclusions, this paper presents the theoretical and managerial implications of the model obtained in this research to measure tourists’ stress in Colombia.