Tourist Population Vulnerability Assessment in Cross-Border Wildfire-Prone Areas
(2025) In Fire Technology 61(5). p.3687-3704- Abstract
Frequent wildfires increasingly impact tourist populations, yet there is a shortage of evidence-based, human-centered tools for wildfire risk reduction tailored to these areas. Most current tools focus primarily on assessing and reducing physical vulnerabilities, overlooking human aspects. While some community wildfire management guidelines exist, actionable strategies for disaster managers to address tourist-specific vulnerabilities are absent. This study aligned with existing vulnerability assessment methodologies, utilizing qualitative interviews, site visits, and literature review to identify key characteristics of tourist vulnerabilities and develop effective mitigation strategies. As a result, we developed TOURSAFE—a freely... (More)
Frequent wildfires increasingly impact tourist populations, yet there is a shortage of evidence-based, human-centered tools for wildfire risk reduction tailored to these areas. Most current tools focus primarily on assessing and reducing physical vulnerabilities, overlooking human aspects. While some community wildfire management guidelines exist, actionable strategies for disaster managers to address tourist-specific vulnerabilities are absent. This study aligned with existing vulnerability assessment methodologies, utilizing qualitative interviews, site visits, and literature review to identify key characteristics of tourist vulnerabilities and develop effective mitigation strategies. As a result, we developed TOURSAFE—a freely accessible tool for disaster risk managers in tourist areas. Based on human behavior in fire scenarios, expected evacuation decisions, and key actors’ expertise, TOURSAFE assists in identifying tourism-related wildfire vulnerabilities and offers relevant, adaptable mitigation strategies. This tool is easy to use, accessible, and provides actionable advice for short-, medium-, and long-term planning.
(Less)
- author
- Vaiciulyte, Sandra
LU
; Rohaert, Arthur
LU
and Ronchi, Enrico LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-09
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Fire safety, Tourism safety, Tourist vulnerability, Vulnerability assessment, Wildfire, Wildland-urban interface
- in
- Fire Technology
- volume
- 61
- issue
- 5
- pages
- 18 pages
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105005572224
- ISSN
- 0015-2684
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10694-025-01750-w
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 73f4c18b-14df-4672-98d0-e45a4d27da1f
- date added to LUP
- 2025-09-16 16:38:19
- date last changed
- 2025-09-16 16:38:37
@article{73f4c18b-14df-4672-98d0-e45a4d27da1f, abstract = {{<p>Frequent wildfires increasingly impact tourist populations, yet there is a shortage of evidence-based, human-centered tools for wildfire risk reduction tailored to these areas. Most current tools focus primarily on assessing and reducing physical vulnerabilities, overlooking human aspects. While some community wildfire management guidelines exist, actionable strategies for disaster managers to address tourist-specific vulnerabilities are absent. This study aligned with existing vulnerability assessment methodologies, utilizing qualitative interviews, site visits, and literature review to identify key characteristics of tourist vulnerabilities and develop effective mitigation strategies. As a result, we developed TOURSAFE—a freely accessible tool for disaster risk managers in tourist areas. Based on human behavior in fire scenarios, expected evacuation decisions, and key actors’ expertise, TOURSAFE assists in identifying tourism-related wildfire vulnerabilities and offers relevant, adaptable mitigation strategies. This tool is easy to use, accessible, and provides actionable advice for short-, medium-, and long-term planning.</p>}}, author = {{Vaiciulyte, Sandra and Rohaert, Arthur and Ronchi, Enrico}}, issn = {{0015-2684}}, keywords = {{Fire safety; Tourism safety; Tourist vulnerability; Vulnerability assessment; Wildfire; Wildland-urban interface}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{5}}, pages = {{3687--3704}}, publisher = {{Springer}}, series = {{Fire Technology}}, title = {{Tourist Population Vulnerability Assessment in Cross-Border Wildfire-Prone Areas}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10694-025-01750-w}}, doi = {{10.1007/s10694-025-01750-w}}, volume = {{61}}, year = {{2025}}, }