Article: The effect of tourism expenditure on the behaviour of tourists in Barcelona Journal: International Journal of Business and Globalisation (IJBG) 2016 Vol.17 No.3 pp.445 - 462 Abstract: This article analyses tourist demand in relation to the city of Barcelona, with the aim of defining the effect of tourist expenditure on tourist behaviour in urban destinations. The relationships between motivation, satisfaction, length of stay and repeat visits are studied for leisure and business travellers. Tourist expenditure is used as a moderating effect, and is made up of three groups described under tourist expenditure: light, medium and heavy spenders. The theoretical model is based on the literature, and puts forward different hypotheses, which are tested using SEM with multi-group analysis. Data collection was carried out on the basis of surveys conducted by Barcelona Tourism Board, Turisme de Barcelona, among tourists during their stay in the destination. The sample used comprises 12,965 tourists who stayed overnight in Barcelona between 2009 and 2011. The results show the behavioural differences between the groups, as well as the degree of support for the hypotheses. Furthermore, these results are used for proposing management strategies for urban destinations. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The effect of tourism expenditure on the behaviour of tourists in Barcelona

Authors: Jorge Moll-de-Alba; Lluís Prats; Lluís Coromina

Addresses: Facultat de Turisme, Universitat de Girona, Pl. Josep Ferrater i Móra, 1, 17071 Girona, Spain ' Facultat de Turisme, Universitat de Girona, Pl. Josep Ferrater i Móra, 1, 17071 Girona, Spain ' Facultat de Turisme, Universitat de Girona, Pl. Josep Ferrater i Móra, 1, 17071 Girona, Spain

Abstract: This article analyses tourist demand in relation to the city of Barcelona, with the aim of defining the effect of tourist expenditure on tourist behaviour in urban destinations. The relationships between motivation, satisfaction, length of stay and repeat visits are studied for leisure and business travellers. Tourist expenditure is used as a moderating effect, and is made up of three groups described under tourist expenditure: light, medium and heavy spenders. The theoretical model is based on the literature, and puts forward different hypotheses, which are tested using SEM with multi-group analysis. Data collection was carried out on the basis of surveys conducted by Barcelona Tourism Board, Turisme de Barcelona, among tourists during their stay in the destination. The sample used comprises 12,965 tourists who stayed overnight in Barcelona between 2009 and 2011. The results show the behavioural differences between the groups, as well as the degree of support for the hypotheses. Furthermore, these results are used for proposing management strategies for urban destinations.

Keywords: tourism expenditure; tourist motivations; customer satisfaction; length of stay; repeat visits; tourist behaviour; Barcelona; Spain; urban destinations; leisure travellers; business travellers; SEM; structural equation modelling; management strategy; tourism management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2016.078845

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2016 Vol.17 No.3, pp.445 - 462

Received: 09 Jun 2015
Accepted: 09 Nov 2015
Published online: 03 Sep 2016 *

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Title: The effect of tourism expenditure on the behaviour of tourists in Barcelona

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