| By: |
Andrés Artal-Tur (Economics Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain);
Luisa Alamá-Sabater (Iidl and Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain) |
| Abstract: |
In this paper we introduce the geographical dimension in the study of tourist
expenditure. By relying on spatial statistics and spatial econometrics
framework, we account for spatial dependence patterns arising in the modelling
of factors driving spendings of tourists at destinations. In doing so, we
extend the scope in traditional microeconometric models, also computing
indirect effects arising in the spatial model. We provide evidence on the
performance of the spatial expenditure approach by using a data set of around
100000 questionnaires of international visitors reaching 1872 destinations in
Spain in year 2014. We employ five types of spatial model specifications when
testing our tourist expenditure function. We also account for endogeneity
issues by running GS2SLS and SPGMM spatial equations. Results confirm the
relevance of the proposed methodology in the study of tourist expenditure
behaviour in space. Regarding the main results of the econometric modeling
section, length of stay appears to be the most important determinant of
tourist expenditure, as well as trip characteristics and the type of
accommodation chosen. The relevance of spatial effects also are being
explained by the indirect spillovers that have shown that agglomeration and
spatial interaction effects in tourist expenditure clusters in Spain would be
responsible of around 15% of average direct spending. |
| Keywords: |
tourist expenditure, spatial dependence, endogeneity, spillover effects, tourism policy. |
| JEL: |
C31 R12 |
| Date: |
2017 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jau:wpaper:2017/13&r=tur |