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

Abstract

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.