Variables influencing visitation decisions to conflict-ridden destinations: the effect of religiosity

The study analyses religiosity as an antecedent variable that influences perceptions of terror risk and animosity, which shape image and visitation intentions to conflict ridden-destinations. The investigation is carried out for two different destinations, Turkey and Israel, both of which suffer from an armed political conflict within their territory. To increase generalizability, the study examines the model of relationships using samples from two source countries, the U.S.A. and India, which represent a Western individualistic and non-Western collectivistic cultural context. The results indicate that religiosity increases terror risk perceptions and decreases animosity, while also indirectly influencing visitation decisions to conflict-ridden destinations. The model is stable for both destinations and across samples, despite some differences that are discussed.