Studying tourists’ suitability as crime targets

Abstract

Using the suitable ‘targetship’ conditionality of the Routine Activities Theory, this study sought to explore the degree to which tourist’s level of institutionalization influences their suitability or otherwise for becoming targets of crime whilst in Ghana. Degree of institutionalization was operationalized using three travel behaviour predictor variables: accommodation preference, reliance on travel intermediaries and travel party size. Using a combination of the binary logistic model and the chi-square test of independence, it was observed that a statistically significant relationship exists between a tourist’s choice of certain travel options and the degree to which they are exposed to various crimes. The relationship is discussed using examples from the data collected.