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Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures

Joaquín Alegre (Professor in the Department of Applied Economics, University of the Balearic Islands, Illes Balears, Spain)
Magdalena Cladera (Professor in the Department of Applied Economics, University of the Balearic Islands, Illes Balears, Spain)

International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research

ISSN: 1750-6182

Article publication date: 3 August 2012

5258

Abstract

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 of the type of tourist, which may be of more interest to the destination in terms of shopping behaviour.

Practical implications

The results are useful in identifying tourist profiles with a different propensity to participate in shopping and with different levels of expenditure. This information may be useful for destination managers interested in promoting shopping activities. Encouraging shopping behaviour may be a way of increasing tourist expenditure at destinations and of providing direct benefits for the local economy.

Originality/values

Tourism literature has given only very limited attention to research on characteristics related to shopping behaviour. This study deals with this subject and it provides information that can help promote shopping activities by tourists. The main contribution of this paper consists of the joint analysis of shopping participation and expenditure amount as a result of trip‐related characteristics and travel motivations.

Keywords

Citation

Alegre, J. and Cladera, M. (2012), "Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 223-237. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506181211246375

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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