Tourists' transport modal choices in Barcelona

Abstract

Transportation planning and mobility management are key for the transition towards sustainable cities. Research on tourists' transport modal choices at destination does not tend to analyse urban areas and instead sticks to one mode of transport. This study empirically testes a theoretical framework on tourists' transport modal choices for city destinations, and identifies the determinants that prompt tourists to choose among the full range of transport options. Based on a survey answered by tourists who visited Barcelona, multinomial logit regressions indicate that the transport mode used to reach the city, the characteristics of both the trip and the tourists, and the intensity of the visit within the destination are highly correlated with the mode selected. Compared to public transport users, those using tourist buses look for rapid access to attractions, those cycling are more interested in visiting the city in a flexible manner and those walking, using taxis and private vehicles have less interest in visiting attractions. This study suggests that the strategy to adopt to foster the use of sustainable modes of transport among visitors should also be considered in connection with targeting their profile.