Destination safety is one of the essential factors that tourists consider when making a travel decision, especially to a destination they are unfamiliar with. Many destinations' success depends on ensuring tourists feel safe and secure before and during their trips. The inherently risky nature of travel also affects tourists' pre-travel and post-travel perceptions of the destination they intend to visit. Accordingly, this study aims to measure the mediating role of local people's attitudes and behaviours toward visitors in the effect of destination safety climate elements on the general risk perception toward the destination. After reviewing existing research, we created a survey and administered it in Istanbul and Antalya, the top tourist destinations in Turkey. The survey was conducted in multiple languages, including Turkish, English, German, and Russian. After filtering out incorrect and incomplete responses, we analysed the dataset consisting of 1299 questionnaire forms. Initially, we used statistical analyses to ensure the scale's validity. We employed structural equation modelling with the AMOS software to examine the hypotheses based on the research objectives. The study found that how residents treat visitors plays a role in shaping tourists' overall perception of safety in a destination.