Title: Length of stay in rural tourism: a local case

Authors: Isabel P. Albaladejo, Lourdes Molera

Addresses: Facultad de Economia y Empresa, Departamento de Metodos Cuantitativos para la Economia y la Empresa, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain. ' Facultad de Economia y Empresa, Departamento de Metodos Cuantitativos para la Economia y la Empresa, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain

Abstract: Short stays and weekend visits are characteristic of rural tourism in Spain, especially in areas with long tradition of sun and sea tourism, like that studied here (Murcia, S.E. Spain). An interesting question is whether the length of the stay might be a determining factor in the profile of rural tourists and whether different strategies should be used for weekend tourists and longer stay visitors. The answers could help promoters and owners when designing strategies to attract and cater for both types. Motivations, socioeconomics and travel patterns are revealed as being significant in distinguishing between these two types of tourists.

Keywords: rural tourism; length of stay; motivation; logit regression; short stays; weekend visits; socioeconomics; travel patterns; Spain; tourism policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2009.023273

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.58 - 71

Published online: 16 Feb 2009 *

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