Joaquín Alegre

Repeat Visitation in Mature Sun and Sand Holiday Destinations

European sun and sand holiday destinations that emerged in the Mediterranean in the 1960s are currently facing competition from both new destinations and new tourist demands. One of the main characteristics of these destinations is the phenomenon of repeat visitation. This article analyzes the effect that repeat visitation rates have on the intention to revisit the destination and on tourists’ level of satisfaction. The results show firstly that despite the fact that repeat visitors are more likely to make a further visit to a destination, its main determinant is a high level of satisfaction. Secondly, the repeat visitation rate has only a limited effect on overall satisfaction. The studys conclusions also point to a tourists’ continued interest in sun and sand products, as well as highlight a need for the products basic components to offer high quality levels to maintain client loyalty.

Analysing the effect of satisfaction and previous visits on tourist intentions to return

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of tourist intentions to revisit a destination, paying special attention to the effects of satisfaction and the number of previous visits. In order to guarantee an incentive to improve the product, satisfaction must be the main determinant. A second objective is to analyse the contribution that satisfaction with different aspects of a destination makes on overall satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – A structural equation model (SEM) has been estimated. Some of the variables involved in the model are ordinal. Thus, tetrachoric, polychoric and polyserial correlations were calculated and then used as the input for structural equation modelling.Findings – Both satisfaction and the number of previous visits have a positive effect on intention to return. However, the main determinant is satisfaction. Satisfaction with different aspects of the destination has a differing effect on overall satisfaction. Attributes associated with the basic s...

Micro-economic determinants of the probability of tourism consumption.

This paper analyses the factors involved in the decision to consume tourism services for leisure purposes. A discrete choice logit model is used, with data drawn from the Spanish Family Expenditure Survey for the period 1985–96. The results suggest that limitations on free time, cultural factors, income (with an income elasticity below one), age and the generation effect are all crucial determining factors in the probability of travel. The use of micro data leads to the detection of a high degree of heterogeneity, both among households and in the different degree to which the aforementioned variables affect travel decisions.

Examining the Market Structure of the German and UK Tour Operating Industries through an Analysis of Package Holiday Prices

This paper offers new empirical evidence that can be used to analyse the structure of the market in which tour operators compete. The authors examine the prices of package holidays to the Balearic ...

The Factor Structure of Tourist Satisfaction at Sun and Sand Destinations

Using European tourists to sun and sand destinations, this article analyzes the factor structure of tourist satisfaction. The factors that define tourist services can be classified into three types: those factors that increase tourist satisfaction, those that only prevent the tourist from feeling dissatisfied, and those factors that can work both ways. Placing attributes of the sun and sand product on the proposed three groups should allow destinations to identify key drivers of satisfaction. To do this, two methods have been used: the importance grid and the penalty—reward analysis. The penalty—reward analysis appears to be more appropriate, allowing for the identification of the three-factor structure.

Analysing the influence of tourist motivations on tourist expenditure at a sun-and-sand destination.

The objective of mature tourist destinations should not be to increase the number of tourists but to increase tourism revenue. To achieve this goal, such destinations should aim to attract higher spending tourists. In this paper, expenditure-based tourist segments are analysed (high, high/medium, medium/low and low spenders). Tourist characteristics and trip-related variables are used to identify the determinants of tourist expenditures. In addition, tourist motivations in choosing the destination were selected as explanatory variables. The results show that, as well as tourist and trip-related characteristics, some tourist motivations are also useful in describing expenditure-based segments. Planning strategies must bear in mind that the effect of tourist motivations on tourist expenditure may differ according to the factors involved.

Research Note: Tourism Expenditure and all-Inclusive Packages – the case of a Mature Mediterranean Destination

Nowadays, all-inclusive packages represent one of the top holiday choices for tourists visiting mature Mediterranean sun-and-sand destinations. Compared to other types of board, all-inclusive packages suppose a change in the way tourists purchase services. This research note analyses the changing patterns of expenditure caused by all-inclusive packages. For that purpose, an empirical analysis is applied to the case of the Balearic Islands, one of the leading Mediterranean destinations. The main findings are twofold: first, compared to other types of board, all-inclusive packages lead to a reduction in the destinations revenue from tourism. Second, all-inclusive packages are causing a significant change in the distribution of tourist expenditure among economic agents. In particular, compared to other types of board, spending in the country of origin is higher for all-inclusive tourists, while spending in the destination is substantially lower.

Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze tourist and trip‐related characteristics and tourist motivations in connection with the decision to participate in shopping and for those tourists who decide to participate, the main determinants of the amount of expenditure.Design/methodology/approach – By estimating a Heckman model this paper analyses characteristics relating to the decision to participate in shopping and characteristics related to the amount of corresponding expenditure. The explanatory variables included in the model are tourist motivations and tourist and trip‐related characteristics. Data used for the analysis come from a survey conducted in the high season of 2008 in Mallorca (Spain), a leading Mediterranean sun and sand destination.Findings – The results indicate different motivations and tourist and trip‐related characteristics are associated with the decision whether or not to participate in shopping and with the level of shopping expenditure. This facilitates the identification ...

Participation in Tourism Consumption and the Intensity of Participation: An Analysis of Their Socio-Demographic and Economic Determinants

Unlike other goods, tourism services are not consumed by a significant percentage of households. Thus, knowledge of aggregate tourism demand hinges on the determinants of corner solutions at the microeconomic level. Furthermore, with regard to those households that consume tourism, their travel frequency patterns in the year need not be the same. This paper uses household microdata to examine the socio-demographic and economic determinants of both decisions: holiday participation and the intensity of participation in the year conditional on participation. The results highlight the relevance in tourism demand analyses of distinguishing between both decisions. In fact, many socio-demographic variables show only explanatory power for the participation decision. The two key factors in explaining both decisions are the previous years tourism participation pattern, suggesting evidence of habit persistence, and income, although with an income elasticity below unity.

The Evolution of British Package Holiday Prices in the Balearic Islands, 2000–2008

This paper analyses the evolution of package holiday prices in the Balearics marketed by a sample of British tour operators during 2000–2008. Three alternative price indexes are presented to measure the evolution of the package holiday prices: a fixed-base hedonic, chained hedonic and chained Laspeyres price index. The results demonstrated that the fixed-base hedonic price index underwent a very slight increase during the period, while the chained hedonic price index and chained Laspeyres price index decreased in value. A comparison of these indexes with two competitiveness indicators (the British Consumer Price Index and the British Package Holidays Price Index) shows that the price of package holidays in the Balearic Islands dropped in value in relation to both the British cost of living index and the general package holiday price index for Britons. An elementary tourism demand function was also estimated, using the constructed indexes, suggesting that British demand was not very sensitive to the price of the Balearic package holiday.