High-speed rail and tourism destination choice: The role and significance of the Camp de Tarragona station for passengers visiting the Costa Daurada

Abstract

We analysed how the availability of high-speed rail (HSR) services affects destination choices among tourists who have arrived by HSR. To that end, we used data from a survey of travellers at Camp de Tarragona Station in Catalonia, Spain, and applied a probabilistic method to measure the increase in probability of visiting the Costa Daurada due to the existence of the HSR station. Results demonstrated a slight increase in the probability of visiting the destination (14.1%), which varied significantly according to the sociodemographic profile of tourists and the characteristics of their travel and stays.