Length of stay of international tourists in Spain: A parametric survival analysis

The goal of this paper is to study the determinants of length of stay of international tourists in Spain using a survival analysis approach. We incorporate unobserved heterogeneity using frailty models to account for misspecification or omitted covariates. The explanatory variables included in the econometric model of tourist demand in terms of length of stay were selected according to the neoclassical theory of consumer choice and the information available in the Tourist Expenditure Survey undertaken by the Spanish Institute for Tourism Studies. We analyze to what extent the tourists' socio-demographic profiles and the trip characteristics determine length of stay. We find that the most important factors are country of origin, destination, and time and budgetary constraints.     

The length of stay of tourists in Madagascar

Survival models are a type of analysis that investigate the length of stay of tourists in certain tourist destinations. This study analyzes the length of stay of tourists in Madagascar. A duration model is used to analyze the length of stay based on a questionnaire to ascertain the significant characteristics influencing the length of stay of these tourists. Policy implications are derived to improve the understanding and management of the length of stay of tourists.     

旅华外国散客旅游流地理分布和网络结构研究

散客旅游是全球主流旅游方式,入境散客市场在中国入境旅游市场中也占据重要地位。文章主要采用问卷法采集数据,研究样本总量1451份,运用地图分析法研究旅华外国散客旅游流的分布和扩散规律,运用社会网络分析法研究旅华外国散客旅游流网络结构特征。研究发现:散客以北京、广州和上海为主要出入境口岸,以香港为辅助口岸,旅游线路以单目的地、短线为主,平均到访目的地数量较少;北京和广州是单目的地散客的主要旅游目的地;多点散客旅游流集中分布在中国人口线东南部,以"北京—西安"之间的流量最大,并形成了长三角、珠三角、川滇3个区域性集中分布区;散客旅游流网络规模较大,但网络密度较低,整体结构松散,发育程度较差;网络具有小世界特性;网络中的节点可以划分成综合性节点、枢纽节点、重要节点和一般节点4种角色类型。文章首次从宏观联系的视角对旅华外国散客旅游流进行了整体研究,丰富和拓展了中国入境旅游流研究内容。     

Information Search Behavior and Tourist Characteristics

SUMMARY

The Internet as a new form of media is impacting tourist information provision and acquisition. A better understanding of the use of the Internet and other information sources by tourists will benefit the marketing efforts of destination organizations. Based on a general consumer behavior theory by Berkman and Gilson (1986), this study examined the relationships between tourists' use of the Internet vs. other information sources and their characteristics. It was found that demographic characteristics of gender and household income and situational factors of trip purpose and travel party type were significantly related to tourists' choices of information sources; and such behavior was associated with their trip outcomes of accommodation types and expenditure. The study's implications were discussed in the context of destination marketing.     

Determinants of Length of Stay for Domestic Tourists: Case Study of Yixing

The length of stay of a tourist is one of the most important factors indicating consumption levels and revenue generation for certain tourist destinations. This study employs data from a tourist survey in Yixing, China, to investigate potential factors influencing a tourist's length of stay. Applying an ordered logit model, it is found that distance, age, organized tour, transportation, motivation, past visits and assessment of accommodation are some of the major determinants of a tourist's length of stay. The results indicate that traveling distance and the assessment of accommodation are positively associated with the length of stay. In addition, tourists with different modes of transportation, motivations and past visits have different durations of stay. Based on the estimation results from subsamples, it is also found that there are differences in determinants of length of stay between organized tourists and individual tourists, and among different age groups.     

A latent class approach to tourists’ length of stay

In this paper, a conditional demand function is estimated for the length of stay at a tourist destination. The microeconomic model specifies the demand for the length of stay conditional on the remaining holiday characteristics that the tourist has chosen (the destination, type of accommodation etc.). The empirical model uses a latent class truncated Poisson regression, which acknowledges the existence of groups or segments of demand with different preferences. In the case under study, a distinction is made between two segments with a preference for either a longer or shorter holiday. The statistical model also resolves a problem of multimodality, acknowledged in previous analyses to be one of the main characteristics of this variable.     

Distance matters: the impact of physical and relative distance on pleasure tourists' length of stay in Barbados

This paper argues that length of stay is a reflection of the distance between the origin and destination country. Past interpretations of distance premised on spatial aspects. This study extends the dimensional space of distance to include socio-psychological dimensions, climate distance and economic distance. Our empirical analysis utilizes airport data covering over 350,000 pleasure tourists to Barbados from 144 countries. The results suggest that the length of stay of pleasure tourists to Barbados increases with geographic distance, cultural distance and climatic distance, but is inversely related to economic distance. We find no evidence that long-distance relationships (captured by transnational and diasporic relationships) affect tourist length of stay. Implications of these findings are provided.     

DISTANCE‐SEGMENTED RURAL TOURISTS

This article uses travel distance to segment rural tourists in a tourist destination in the U.S. Midwest. A distance decay pattern was identified, with more than half of the respondents traveling from a location within 200 miles of the destination. The differences in the socio‐demographic, trip‐related characteristics, and destination activities of these tourists were examined across distinct distance segments. Among other findings, the study revealed that tourists from within a 50‐mile radius participated in most of the activities, and those traveling between 200 and 600 miles made up the majority of business travelers. These two segments also had a higher participation rate in the recreational activities than did the other distance segments. The findings of the study show that simple variables such as distance travel remain viable for destinations, particularly those in the rural area, to understand the tourists for segmentation purpose.     

Optimizing or maximizing growth? A challenge for sustainable tourism

Virtually all destinations seek to increase tourist numbers, pursuing economic maximization strategies. Considerably less attention is paid to optimizing existing tourist systems to create more profitable, stable, resilient and potentially more sustainable entities. While aspects of tourist expenditure, average length of stay and seasonality as three key destination management variables have received considerable attention in the literature, focus has usually been on the identification of “profitable” tourism markets by considering observed patterns of spending, length of stay and vacation timing. Building on such earlier studies, this paper focuses on flexibilities in these parameters: could tourists have spent more, stayed longer or visited during a different season? Perceptions of destination expensiveness as a potential deterrent to visitation were also addressed. Based on a sample (n = 1914) of domestic and international tourists in the Swedish cities of Kalmar and Stockholm, data were collected in face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Results indicate considerable potential to optimize the Swedish tourism system with regard to all variables studied, while also providing new insights for destination management in the context of economic resilience. Results also indicate the need for researchers everywhere to have detailed market knowledge if they are to persuade the industry to change its sustainability behavior.     

Reject or select: Mapping destination choice

The purpose of this study is to empirically explore tourists’ destination choice processes. Destination choices are investigated using a combination of data on destinations and on tourists’ individual destination choices. Data were collected in Munich/Germany in 2013 using personal interviews; 622 interviews were completed. This approach allows detecting reasons for the rejection or selection of certain types of destinations during the destination choice process. Results show that tourists often start the destination choice process with various combinations of destination types but act similarly when choosing the final destination. The investigation of tourist and destination characteristics results in a tourist typology that varies in regard to similarity and type of alternative destinations at different stages of the destination choice process.     

基于地方情感的旅游目的地选择模型建构研究

旅游目的地选择模型建构的研究多数以微观经济学、认知心理学与市场营销学等为基础理论,较少从个体与地方感情连结的视角探讨游客旅游目的地选择决策行为。文章以旅游目的地选择为研究主轴概念,结合地方情感概念中的旅游目的地意象和地方依恋,根据研究文献梳理结果、基础理论界定模型建构的路径变量与逻辑框架,进而提出基于地方情感的旅游目的地选择模型及模型过程步骤。文章建构模型表明,游客旅游目的地选择始于旅游目的地意象的形成,随着整体认知意象的深化,游客对旅游目的地将产生地方认同感,再通过选择决策行为选择意向的旅游目的地从事旅游活动,通过对旅游目的地旅游体验的功能满足产生依赖感,最终形成对旅游目的地的地方依恋感。研究成果对于旅游目的地选择具有交叉研究的创新价值,对于旅游目的地市场战略规划实践活动而言具有参照价值。     

Effects of Gender Differences on Perceptions of Destination Attributes,Motivations, and Travel Values: An Examination of a Nature-Based Resort Destination

This study examines the perceptions of the potential tourist market to a nature-based resort destination from the gendered perspective. The research reveals that significant gender differences exist about the perceived importance of destination attributes and travel values when potential nature tourists consider destination choices. After controlling for demographic and travel behaviour variables, such as age, marital status, education, household income, preference of price quote and length of stay, most gender differences remain significant. In addition, more significant distinctions between men and women are demonstrated after controlling for age and income level. The study provides insights into gendered perceptions of nature-based tourism settings. Specific marketing implications are discussed in an attempt to successfully attract nature tourists and provide a high-quality nature destination experience.     

Investigating International Tourists’ Intention to Revisit Myanmar Based on Need Gratification,Flow Experience and Perceived Risk

Satisfaction plays an important role in creating loyalty to a tourism destination. However, ensuring consistent satisfactory trip experiences for tourists and increasing their revisit intention remain challenging for many international tourism destinations, including Myanmar. We conducted a survey with 465 international tourists visiting Myanmar. Results indicate that need gratification and flow can increase tourist satisfaction. The perceived risks of tourism destination can decrease tourist satisfaction. Satisfaction is an important factor to mediate the influence of need gratification, flow, and perceived risks. A tourist’s intention to revisit Myanmar can be largely improved by attending to these independent and mediating factors.     

Analyzing the Pre-Travel,On-Travel,and Post-Travel Behaviors of Iran’s First-Time Visitors

This study was designed to gain an understanding of the perceptions of foreign tourists traveling to Iran of the image of Iran (both pre- and post-travel), trip value, satisfaction, intention to revisit Iran, and likelihood to recommend Iran as a travel destination to others. The empirical data was conveniently obtained from 298 tourists who visited Iran. Using SPSS 19 and LISREL 8.8 programs, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-travel image of Iran. Before the visit, tourists had a negative image of Iran. This changed, however, after their visit. The results also showed that the post-travel image directly influenced trip value and tourist satisfaction. Furthermore, trip value and tourist satisfaction directly influenced revisit and recommend intentions.     

A closer look at destination: Image,personality, relationship and loyalty

Drawing on brand relationship theory and attitude theory, this study investigates the relationships among destination image, destination personality, tourist–destination relationship and tourist behavior. Using a sample of 428 foreign tourists visiting the Angkor temple area of Cambodia and the structural equation modeling technique, the results reveal that destination image and destination personality have positive effects on the tourist–destination relationship, which in turn affect tourist behavior. The study lends support to brand relationship theory, indicating that tourists form emotional relationships with destinations, and further supports Bagozzi's (1992) reformulation of attitude theory with regard to the cognitive, affective and behavior sequence.     

Is the spending behaviour of tourists affected by low-cost carriers' operation? Some empirical evidence

The objectives of this research include studying the impact of low-cost carriers on the spending behaviour of the tourists at a given destination. To accomplish these objectives we examined the allocation of tourist expenditures to different travel-associated expenses and its determinants in the Azores islands and compared the situation before and after the airline liberalization. We considered that socio-demographic and trip-related characteristics influence spending behaviour.We used Interval Regression Models to estimate the relationships between tourists' expenditures and their determinants. The results confirm a structural break in the value of the coefficients when considering the periods before and after the airline liberalization.     

Toward an understanding of online information processing in e-tourism: does national culture matter?

Tourism is undoubtedly among the industries that better reflect the effects of globalization, technological advances (i.e. the Internet) being one of the most relevant drivers. Given the current market saturation of this sector, a better understanding of how tourists from different cultures process online information and forge their attitudes and behavioral intentions is called for. Nevertheless, national culture may have a major influence on the effectiveness of online tourist marketing activities. This study contributes to the extant body of knowledge via the analysis of the influence of perceived risk on how tourists process the information while browsing a tourist destination website, form their attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the destination. The effect of national culture on such antecedents is examined via a cross-cultural research to compare Spanish and British cultures. A theoretical model is proposed to integrate the effect of perceived risk and variables regarding technology acceptance on tourist responses.     

The classification of heritage tourists: a case of Hue City,Vietnam

Heritage, especially with World Heritage status, is increasingly becoming the main attraction of many tourist destinations. Heritage tourism is also the major tourism product in Hue city, Vietnam. Hitherto, there are almost no official statistics and research pertaining to heritage tourism as well as heritage tourists in Hue. This study aims at providing a preliminary profile of heritage tourists to Hue city and identifying different categories of heritage tourists, with a special focus on package tourists. The international heritage tourists' profile seems to be similar to official statistics of international arrivals, indicating almost no difference in socio-demographic profile between heritage tourists and general tourists in the context of Hue. Various significant differences were found between international and domestic tourists in terms of tourist characteristics, trip profile and the perception of Hue. Adopting McKercher's [(2002) Towards a classification of cultural tourists. International Journal of Tourism Research, 4, 29–38] cultural tourist classification, five categories of heritage tourists were identified, including purposeful heritage tourists, sightseeing heritage tourists, casual heritage tourists, incidental heritage tourists and serendipitous heritage tourists. Among these, sightseeing heritage tourists and purposeful heritage tourists were dominant.     

Determinants of individual tourist expenditure as a network: Empirical findings from Uruguay

This paper introduces the use of graphical models for assessing the determinants of individual tourist spending. These models have the advantage of synthesizing and visualizing the relationships occurring within large sets of random variables, through an easy to interpret output. To this end, individual data from a large official survey of international tourists in Uruguay are used. Symmetric conditional independence structures are first investigated. Then subgraphs of each expenditure item's neighbourhood are extracted in order to assess the impact of main effects and interactions through proportional ordinal logistic regression. Results highlight the marginal role of socio-demographic variables and direct importance of accommodation type, destination and length of stay.