THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL SAFETY PERCEPTION IN A TOURIST DESTINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG TOURISTS

Contemporary tourism contributes to the recognition and convergence of different cultures through the development of transport and various forms of communication and other technologies. Tourism increases mutual tolerance and contributes to world peace, while significant preconditions for tourism development are destination peace and safety at the same time. Tourism development is in the interest of many countries due to its positive and multiplier impact on the economy, but there are also major changes in the safety aspect of countries around the world, thus safety becomes one of the most important elements in choosing destinations. Consequently, tourist behaviour patterns change, and the personal safety of tourists, resulting from the safety situation in the country, becomes an increasingly important element for successful positioning of tourist destinations. The aim of this paper is to present the attitudes of young foreign tourists about the safety of the destination and their perception of the safety situation in Croatia in regards to competitive countries. The research results show that safety perception is a significant element when choosing a destination to travel, and Croatia is perceived as above-average safe country, which are important data that should be used more in promoting Croatia as a tourist destination.