Sunburn No.1 Cairns holiday danger
VISITORS to Cairns are far more terrified of being sunburnt than they are of crocodile and shark attacks, or even being caught in a cyclone.
A study by James Cook University has revealed both domestic and international tourists' worst fears about a visit to the tropics.
The team of researchers, which surveyed nearly 2000 visitors at Cairns international airport in June, found the No. 1 concern was being sunburnt, followed by being bitten by a snake, swimming in the ocean, becoming ill, and being attacked by a shark.
Poll: Are you afraid of being sunburnt in Far North Queensland?
Of least concern was contracting a sexually transmitted disease, being caught in a cyclone, caught in flooding and the global financial crisis.
And tourists in the Far North were more afraid of being overcharged in shops than they were of contracting dengue fever.
JCU Professor of marketing and tourism management, Bruce Prideaux, said the results of the study demonstrated Cairns was perceived as a fairly safe destination.
"It really shows that we have no identifiable problems where people are saying, 'Hey Cairns is a problem destination because you’re going to get your drink spiked or the city nightlife is unsafe'," Prof Prideaux said.
Happy to slip, slop, slap to enjoy the Far North Queensland sun? Win a bikini
The study will be repeated in two years to see whether visitors' perceived fears of travelling to Far North Queensland have changed.
Top 10 fear factors
1 Being sunburnt
2. Bitten by a snake
3. Swimming in the ocean
4. Becoming ill
5. Shark attacks
6. Bitten by marine stingers
7. Crocodile attacks
8. Overcharged by shops
9. Hotel break-ins
10. Vehicle accidents
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Tropical terror: Tourists rate sunburn higher on their list of safety concerns than crocodile and shark attacks or getting caught in a cyclone. Picture: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI
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