Title: Determinants of tourist expenditure: the role of tourists' experiences in the city of Porto

Authors: Ana Maria Reis; Elvira Pacheco Vieira; Ana Pinto Borges

Addresses: ISAG – European Business School and Research Center in Business Sciences and Tourism (CICET – FCVC), Campus de Salazares/Ramalde, Rua dos Salazares 842, 4100-442, Porto, Portugal ' ISAG – European Business School, Research Center in Business Sciences and Tourism (CICET – FCVC), Campus de Salazares/Ramalde, Rua dos Salazares 842, 4100-442, Porto, Portugal; IPVC – Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo and UNIAG – Applied Management Research Unit, Campus de Salazares/Ramalde, Rua dos Salazares 842, 4100-442, Porto, Portugal ' ISAG – European Business School and Research Center in Business Sciences and Tourism (CICET – FCVC), Campus de Salazares/Ramalde, Rua dos Salazares 842, 4100-442 Porto, Portugal

Abstract: Little attention has been paid to the specifics of urban and cultural tourism and the experiences associated with it, namely in the study of the factors that determine tourists' spending behaviour. We assess how tourists' spending during a visit to the city of Porto is related to experiences related to gastronomy and wine, to their socio-demographic attributes and the characteristics of the trip. Data is based on interviews with domestic and foreign tourists. Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimate shows that indicators such as age, education or activity in the labour market have a positive impact on the spending of tourists, with the length of stay being associated with lower spending. The experiences offered at a destination play an important and positive role in tourists' spending. This implies that it is important to offer specific offers and experiences to increase the attractiveness of the destination. Also, the relationships differ between men and women.

Keywords: tourism; tourist expenditure; experiences; city tourism; trip; gastronomy; wine.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2021.114457

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2021 Vol.11 No.1, pp.73 - 87

Received: 14 Jul 2020
Accepted: 14 Nov 2020
Published online: 22 Apr 2021 *

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