Abstract

This exploratory research is aimed at studying how perceptions of Italian organised crime are affecting tourists' behaviour and the role of the "stock of knowledge" in this relationship. Focus groups with Italian and British participants were carried out in order to identify differences between these groups. It was found that the amount, the type of information available (i.e. fictional vs non-fictional), and direct experience can affect travel behaviour. Indeed, Italian non-visitors who used non-fictional sources of information were afraid of travelling to the South of Italy. On the contrary, Britons using fictional sources of information were not afraid.