Beyond the Ship: A 4M Framework Analysis of Safety Risks and Tour Guide Preparedness in Shore Excursion

Abstract

Safety incidents during shore excursions can disrupt cruise itineraries and threaten tourist well-being. This study examines incident-related factors and tour guide preparedness at Company A, a destination management company operating in Bali. A qualitative descriptive design combined content analysis of 45 incident reports from 2025 with semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively selected guides who had handled or witnessed incidents. Data were organized using the 4M framework: man, machine, material, and method/management. Material factors accounted for 22 report classifications and 20 interview mentions, followed by man factors with 17 classifications and eight mentions. Machine factors appeared in six reports and no interview mentions. No method/management factors appeared in the frequency summary, although interview narratives identified communication and warning-sign weaknesses. Interview mentions were not treated as additional incidents. Guide preparedness involved safety knowledge, preventive briefings, first aid, and reporting, but access to formal training varied. The findings support coordinated improvements in destination infrastructure, risk communication, equipment checks, and recurring guide training. These priorities offer a context-specific basis for safer shore excursion operations rather than a causal estimate of incident risk.

Keywords:   shore excursion, tour guide preparedness, safety risk management, 4M approach