Earthquake and tsunami preparedness between residents and tourists in coastal communities

Abstract

Earthquakes and tsunamis are natural phenomena that trigger severe consequences for communities. Compared to residents, tourists are more vulnerable to natural hazards, mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the territory hazards, alert signs, and the local language. To encourage disaster preparedness behavior, this study explored the differences in risk perception, trust in authorities, and preparedness for earthquakes and tsunamis between residents and tourists in a coastal city highly exposed to seismic activity.

A survey was implemented in a sample of residents (n = 548) and tourists (national n = 194; international n = 38) in a coastal city in Chile. The questionnaire evaluated perceived risk and perceived consequences, trust in authorities, and the participants' preparedness level against earthquakes and tsunamis.

The findings reveal that international tourists perceived lower risk and consequences and higher trust in authorities than national tourists and residents. On the contrary, residents demonstrated higher levels of preparedness, reflecting their familiarity with the hazards and evacuation signage. The results highlight the importance of personalized strategies to increase tourist preparedness (both national and international). Implications and strategies are addressed in the study.