Food choices, health risk perception and culinary experiences among travelers
基于保护动机理论，调查了600名计划前往加勒比地区的美国旅行者，发现多数人对雪卡鱼中毒的认知有误，且对预防措施的认知比风险认知更能影响其食物选择，提示酒店业需加强风险沟通。
Purpose Travel to tropical destinations offers valued culinary experiences but also exposes tourists to health risks such as Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP). This study aims to examine how threat and countermeasure awareness shape US travelers’ food choices. Design/methodology/approach Using protection motivation theory (PMT), a cross-sectional Pollfish survey (May–June 2024) collected data from 600 US adults planning travel to the Caribbean, assessing knowledge of CFP symptoms, transmission and prevention. Findings Most respondents held inaccurate knowledge, including the belief that cooking removes CFP toxins. Countermeasure awareness exerted a stronger influence than threat awareness on threat and coping appraisals, with misconceptions associated with lower protection motivation and riskier fish consumption. Practical implications The findings emphasize the need for clear, culturally sensitive risk communication in hospitality settings to correct misconceptions about CFP prevention and support safer seafood choices. Originality/value This study advances PMT by conceptualizing threat awareness and countermeasure awareness as distinct predictors of protective behavior, extending research on foodborne illness and climate-related health risks in hospitality settings.