Understanding risk perception in travellers

Information is widely available about travel risks and prevention. Yet, every year a proportion of travellers are affected by illnesses or injuries sustained during their trip, many of which are preventable. In this article we will consider how people perceive risk; how people make decisions about engaging in preventative behaviour; and the role of the pre-travel consultation in promoting healthy behaviour in travellers. The article defines factors that affect travellers’ choices about taking preventative measures and describes strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the pre-travel consultation