Comportamiento del turista culturalUn análisis desde la perspectiva experiencial

Resum

_The tourism sector is one of the primary sources of memorable experiences because, by its very nature, tourism generates knowledge, fun, feelings, and emotions among individuals. These experiences influence tourist behavioral intention, which can deliver benefits for destinations. Furthermore, analyzing tourist behavior can help destinations to devise strategies and actions that improve the visitor experience. Within this analysis of consumer behavior, spatio-temporal behavior is of particular relevance. AIM_ The aim of this thesis is to analyze how the spatio-temporal sequence of a visit to a cultural destination is configured and how this configuration influences the tourist experience. The main antecedent of both these variables is tourist motive for visiting the destination in question. The study also analyzes the impact of a) tourism product quality and b) the possibility of sharing experiences via social media on the tourist experience. Finally, the consequences of the tourist experience for the destination are studied in terms of destination image and tourist intention to sustain loyal behaviors (revisit and recommendation intention). METHODOLOGY_ A sample of 299 tourists is used, recruited at the beginning of their visit to a cultural destination (Granada). A preliminary survey is conducted, and subsequently the tourists are each given a mobile phone that they must carry with them throughout their stay. The device is programmed to record the different zones of the city they visit, the length of the visit to each zone, and the order in which the zones are visited. At the end of their stay, the sample participants are contacted again to collect data measuring the overall experience and its consequences. RESULTS_ Two broad segments of tourists were identified, based on their spatiotemporal behavior at the destination_ one that chose to visit more zones of the city with a relatively high concentration of cultural attractions, and one that preferred stay mainly in the area where the hotel is located. Within the former segment, three sub-segments were identified, all of which generated a superior (more positive) tourist experience, compared to the segment that stayed in the hotel zone. The tourist experience can also be explained in terms of the different motives for undertaking tourism—particularly intellectual and social. Furthermore, the tourist’s motives for the visit shape their typical behavior once at the destination in terms of visit cultural orientation and number of zones visited. Other variables, such as the expected tourism product quality or the use of social networks to obtain or share information during the stay, also positively influenced the experience of the cultural tourist_