Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures

Joaquín Alegre; Magdalena Cladera

doi:10.1108/17506181211246375

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International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research

ISSN: 1750-6182

Online from: 2007

Subject Area: Tourism and Hospitality

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Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures

Document Information:
Title:	Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures
Author(s):	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)
Citation:	Joaquín Alegre, Magdalena Cladera, (2012) "Tourist characteristics that influence shopping participation and expenditures", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 6 Iss: 3, pp.223 - 237
Keywords:	Consumer behaviour, Heckman model, Shopping, Shopping expenditure by tourists, Spain, Tourism, Tourist destination, Tourist motivations, Tourist profile
Article type:	Research paper
DOI:	10.1108/17506181211246375 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements:	Received April 2010. Revised August 2010. Accepted September 2010. The authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology for its financial support during the SEJ2007-65255/ECON project and to the Conselleria de Turisme and Conselleria d'Economia, Hisenda I Innovació for their financial support in conducting the survey that has been used in the present study.
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.