TY - JOUR
T1 - A CATREG Model of Destination Choice for a Mature Island Destination
AU - Almeida, António
AU - Garrod, Brian
N1 - This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.11.005
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - This paper explores, for a consumer perspective the factors that most strongly influence the attraction and retention of tourists by mature island destinations during the stagnation phase of the resort lifecycle. Such destinations often attempt to develop ex nihilo strategies, typically in the form of product differentiation. Others have adopted a strategy of consolidating their traditional tourism markets. It can be argued, however, that to undertake either strategy successfully requires a very clear understanding of the factors that determine tourist destination choice. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that shape tourist destination choices in the case of Madeira, a ‘classic’ destination in the Atlantic area, which is in many ways typical of mature tourism destinations in their stagnation phase. The study presents the findings of a categorical regression based on a sample of 260 visitors. Insights are gained into how the destination can best be managed and marketed in order to facilitate the attraction and retention of tourists. The paper concludes that the most salient factors determining destination choice tend largely to be generic and cross-cutting, implying that tourism policy and practice needs to be more focused on operational issues than it tends to be.
AB - This paper explores, for a consumer perspective the factors that most strongly influence the attraction and retention of tourists by mature island destinations during the stagnation phase of the resort lifecycle. Such destinations often attempt to develop ex nihilo strategies, typically in the form of product differentiation. Others have adopted a strategy of consolidating their traditional tourism markets. It can be argued, however, that to undertake either strategy successfully requires a very clear understanding of the factors that determine tourist destination choice. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that shape tourist destination choices in the case of Madeira, a ‘classic’ destination in the Atlantic area, which is in many ways typical of mature tourism destinations in their stagnation phase. The study presents the findings of a categorical regression based on a sample of 260 visitors. Insights are gained into how the destination can best be managed and marketed in order to facilitate the attraction and retention of tourists. The paper concludes that the most salient factors determining destination choice tend largely to be generic and cross-cutting, implying that tourism policy and practice needs to be more focused on operational issues than it tends to be.
KW - destination image
KW - Madeira
KW - CATREG analysis
KW - destination marketing
KW - stagnation phase
KW - Island tourism
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/2160/44226
U2 - 10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.11.005
M3 - Article
SN - 2212-571X
VL - 8
SP - 32
EP - 40
JO - Journal of Destination Marketing and Management
JF - Journal of Destination Marketing and Management
ER -