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Responding to Disaster: Thai and Scandinavian Tourists' Motivation to Visit Phuket, Thailand

Siam University in Bangkok, Thailand

This study explores travel motivation on thanatourism of tourists visiting the disaster-hit beach resort of Phuket and identifies differences in tourist motivation between Thais and Scandinavians and between tourists of different age and gender. The findings reveal that curiosity about the outcome of the tsunami, desire to help local people, and safety were the most important travel motivations. Significantly, it is found that curiosity on thanatourism of tourists is not curiosity about death but about the outcome of the disaster and that it motivated only domestic tourists but not inbound tourists. In addition, the study suggests that curiosity acts as both a push and a pull motivation for domestic tourists. The findings also suggest that women are more motivated by safety and desire to help others than are men and that young tourists are the most curious regarding thanatourism.

Key Words: tsunami • motivation • thanatourism • Thai • Scandinavian • Phuket • Thailand

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