Segmenting the mature travel market by motivation

Determinant factors of senior tourists’ length of stay

“…The first consisted of questions about socio-demographic variables-age, sex, employment situation, income and family structure and size, travel experience, education level and purchasing power (source of income and home ownership)-as well as self-perceived factors-health, economic status and time-, based on the studies by Blazey (1992), Cooper et al (2007), Fleischer and Pizam (2002), Fleischer and Seiler (2002), Meng and Uysal (2008), Romsa and Blenman (1989), Schröder andWidmann (2007), Wang (2005) and Wu (2003). The second part is comprised of issues related to travel purpose (push factors)-holidays, visits to family and/or friends, health and work-and those about the destination (pull factors) based on the studies of Bai et al (1999), Baloglu and Uysal (1996), Blazey (1992), Chen (2009), Huang and Tsai (2003), Jang et al (2003), Jang and Wu (2006), Lawson (1991), Norman et al (2001), Sangpikul (2008), Wang (2005), Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003). Finally, issues to do with the trip's characteristics-destination, type of accommodation used, mode (individual/group), type of trip, length of trip and activities carried out at the destination-are almost totally based on the studies by Bai et al (1999), Bai et al (2001), Batra (2009), Javalgi et al (1992, Lawson (1991), Patterson (2006, Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003).…”

“…The second part is comprised of issues related to travel purpose (push factors)-holidays, visits to family and/or friends, health and work-and those about the destination (pull factors) based on the studies of Bai et al (1999), Baloglu and Uysal (1996), Blazey (1992), Chen (2009), Huang and Tsai (2003), Jang et al (2003), Jang and Wu (2006), Lawson (1991), Norman et al (2001), Sangpikul (2008), Wang (2005), Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003). Finally, issues to do with the trip's characteristics-destination, type of accommodation used, mode (individual/group), type of trip, length of trip and activities carried out at the destination-are almost totally based on the studies by Bai et al (1999), Bai et al (2001), Batra (2009), Javalgi et al (1992, Lawson (1991), Patterson (2006, Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003).…”

“…Various authors agree that a relationship exists between the main motive or reason for the trip-push factors-and the length of stay at the destination (Jang et al, 2003;Lawson, 1991;Seaton and Palmer, 1997;Wang, 2005;Wang et al, 2008). They have specifically noted that in trips made for the purpose of seeing family and/or friends, the average length of stay is higher.…”

“…Finally, the following are the main activities carried out by seniors at their destination: shopping, organised day trips, visits to historical or artistic sights, physical and sports activities, going to the cinema or theatre and visiting museums (Bai et al, 2001;Batra, 2009;Lawson, 1991;Litrell et al, 2004;Wang et al, 2008). In addition to the significant economic impact that these activities carried out in the tourist destination have on local economies, they also have a positive relationship to the length of stay.…”

“…This study intends to make an empirical contribution to the topic of length of stay in destination of the mature Spanish population, given the scant number of existing studies and their eminently descriptive character (Bai et al, 2001;Blazey, 1992;Fleischer and Pizam, 2002;Fleischer and Seiler, 2002;Jang et al, 2003;Lawson, 1991;Oppermann, 1995;Romsa and Blenman, 1989;Wang, 2005 andWang et al, 2008).…”