Towards an improved typology approach to segmenting cultural tourists

Abstract

This study aims to improve the cultural tourist typology methodology that uses cultural centrality and depth of cultural experience in its framework. Using a sample of Chinese tourists in Macau (n = 595) collected via questionnaire surveys, the study confirmed the determination effect of cultural centrality on depth of cultural experience. Subsequently, the study demonstrated an improved approach that eliminates such a determination effect in typology identification. Compared to McKercher's () approach, the improved typology presents a balanced segmentation of cultural tourists and distinguishes the segments more clearly in their sociodemographic characteristics. The improved typology generated more meaningful practical implications.

Heritage Tourism in Ubeda Y Baeza (Spain). World Heritage Reinassance Cities

“…There are several studies that evidence that women prefer these cultural places (Vong & Ung, 2012;Nguyen & Cheung, 2014;Remoaldo et al, 2014;Ramires et al, 2017). On the other hand, there are also studies that show the contrary and conclude that men are the ones who are most attracted to these destinations (Correia et al, 2013;Antón et al, 2017;Chen & Huang, 2017;Hall, 2017). Controversy is also present in relation to another of the variables analyzed in this type of studies: age.…”

“…Thus, empirical evidence indicates quite different age brackets. For example, Chen and Huang (2017) identify tourists between 21 and 35 years old; Anton et al (2017) find ages between 30 and 44 years; Remoaldo et al (2014) identify ages that range from 26 to 45; Huh, Uysal and McCleary (2006) show ages that range between 38 and 47 years; and Correia et al (2013) and Ramires et al (2017) establish ages over 45 years. In relation to the level of training, the existing academic literature indicates that visitors who go to destinations where an artistic and monumental heritage predominates have a certain level of university academic training.…”

Tourist Clusters in a Developing Country in South America: The Case of Manabì Province, Ecuador

“…Among the main factors that are the object of study, visitor age is one of the most recurrent. Most investigations conclude that cultural tourists tend to be young or middle-aged (below 45 years), or even between 21 and 35 years [31]. On the other hand, some scholars increase this age profile to between 26 and 45 years [6] or 30-44 years [21].…”

“…In terms of educational level of tourists visiting heritage destinations, most research has found that this type of tourist general has completed higher education [9,10,21,30,32,33], although it remains important to highlight the attractiveness of destinations with an important cultural and natural heritage among university students [31].…”

“…Income level is another sociodemographic variable that is usually analyzed, and most studies have found that cultural tourists tend to have a medium or medium-high available income, which is also related to educational level [9,21,[31][32][33][34]. Finally, regarding the potential contribution of cultural tourists to the destination's economic development, it has been suggested that the greater the interest in the destination's heritage, the greater the intention to spend on the visit, which increases the consequent impact on the local economy [32].…”