Navigating cross-cultural port tourism: Unleashing the psychological safety valve for risk management

Existing research primarily concentrates on the influence of epidemic risk on industrial and economic growth, with less attention paid to understanding the internal psychological processes governing tourist risk prevention and management. In light of the imperative for risk mitigation in the post-epidemic era and the revival of travelers' desire to explore, our study introduces a practical mechanism aimed at alleviating psychological concerns and undertakes two thematic investigations. Through structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, we elucidate the specific mechanisms for opening tourists' psychological safety valves and delve into the factors contributing to tourists' empathy. Furthermore, we delve into the empathetic path for port risk prevention and management, employing four rounds of expert-driven fuzzy evaluation. Consequently, we put forward an empathetic approach to port risk prevention and management for cross-cultural tourism development. This approach unravels the enigmatic 'black box' of port management in the post-COVID-19 era, spotlighting the pivotal role of empathy within it. Our study introduces a groundbreaking concept, the 'opening of the psychological safety valve,' shedding light on its potential to reconcile tourists' risk perceptions with their travel aspirations. This innovation stands to benefit destinations striving for the healthy growth of cross-cultural tourism.