6533b830fe1ef96bd1297c4d

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Demographic change, tourism expenditure and life cycle behavior

Cristina BerniniMaria Francesca Cracolici

subject

Consumption (economics)Economic growthStrategy and ManagementDemographic characteristicTransportationDevelopmentHurdle modelTourism expenditure Demographic characteristics Life cycle model Hurdle models Cohort technique Domestic and international travelDomestic and international travelDemographic changeTourism Leisure and Hospitality ManagementSettore SECS-S/03 - Statistica EconomicaCohortEconomicsPopulation growthDemographic economicsCohort techniqueIncome elasticity of demandTourism expenditurehuman activitiesLife cycle modelTourism

description

Abstract The paper explores how demographic changes in human populations may impact on tourism decision-making of households over their life cycle. By means of hurdle models, the study focuses respectively on the decision to travel domestically or abroad and investigates if statistically significant differences exist as to the impact of age and cohort on the decision to travel and tourism expenditure. Using a vast dataset on Italian Household Expenditures over the period 1997–2007 the empirical results show that demographic aspects do have a strong effect on the tourism behaviour of families and that cohort and age effects act differently on the decision of households to make a trip and on how much they spend on tourism. Age has a negative effect on the desire to travel but a positive effect on tourism expenditure. On the other hand, older cohorts are inclined to travel but they have a low propensity to spend on tourism. Relevant differences in income elasticity along the life cycle of households have also been found. Finally, age and cohort aspects have a different effect on the decision as to whether to travel nationally or internationally.

10.1016/j.tourman.2014.09.016http://hdl.handle.net/11585/532436