Tourists' perception of volcanic hazards and volcanic risk in Tenerife Island

The entire Canarian Archipelago can be considered a volcanically active area and its volcanic risk is now much higher than 50 years ago as a result of the actual high levels of population and socio-economic value exposure to the volcanic hazards present on the territory. The knowledge of perception of volcanic hazards and volcanic risk of different groups of the society will be essential to develop an effective reduction volcanic risk strategy as a collective responsibility. The different groups can be communication professionals, tourists, urban and territorial planners and the general public, among others. While some may have more specific roles and responsibilities in this endeavor, visitors and tourists can make a significant contribution to volcanic risk management efforts. The Canary Islands register between 8 to 13 millions of visitors every year (source: Statistics National Institute-INE), what means a significant number of floating populations visiting an active volcanic area. This research aims to assess the level of understanding and interest that tourists have about volcanoes and volcanic risk management in Canary Islands, and to examine the potential and desired role of the tourists in enhancing the effectiveness of volcanic risk management efforts.

To assess tourists' perceptions of volcanic hazards and risks on Tenerife, we have designed a face-to-face questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of approximately 30 questions and is completed in about 10 or 15 minutes. Approximately 20% of the questionnaire covers demographic data, while questions about volcanic phenomenon and volcanic risk management account for roughly 40%, with the remaining 40% centered on respondents' perception of volcanic hazards and risks. The questionnaire was released from July 18 to the end of September 2023, with a total of 419 tourists surveyed.