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Introduction. This study is all about the destination which is perceived as risky due to tourism risks, viz., perceived risk, political risk, social risk, economic reflections, natural disasters etc.
Material and methods. Statistically, the total sample size was 217, for which self-structured closed questionnaire was framed to understand the tourist intentions and their future perspectives towards the conflict sensitive destination in consonance with destination image as a mediator between tourism risks and tourist intentions. Data were collected from respondents by random sampling method, and research model was evaluated using two-step structural equation modeling approach. The measurement model was furthermore estimated by confirmatory factor analysis followed by an examination of the structural relationships between the study constructs.
Results. Results of the current study confirmed that there is no direct relationship between tourism risks and tourist intentions, whereas tourism risks have a significant negative relationship with destination image. However, this image has a significant positive relationship with tourist intentions and their future perspectives at destinations in conflict.
Conclusions. The study shows that destination image serves as a mediator between tourism risks and tourist intentions and their future perspectives. Moreover, it is inferred that destination image plays a positive role in the decision making of tourists and their behavioral intentions towards destinations that are sensitive to tourism risks.
