Using the media's tweets to broaden previous conceptualizations of political travel risks

This study utilized content analysis to identify and analyze the types of risk mentioned in the news media's tweets. The findings broadened previous conceptualizations of travel risk related to politics and highlighted the significance of geopolitics as a potential source of harm for destinations. Approximately two-in-three tweets mentioned foreign relations, a novel travel risk type. Specifically, strained foreign relations emerged as a significant risk for the destination. An additional finding resulted in the integration of political instability into the novel travel risk type of internal affairs, which captured the political environment within the destination. Monitoring the types of risk mentioned in media messages related to a destination is an essential function of destination risk management. Particular attention should be given to issues that may have either direct or indirect impacts on tourism. This study highlighted the need for DMOs to continuously monitor Twitter for emerging sources of risk for destinations.