The notion of competitiveness receives growing attention in the tourism literature as it is recognized as a central factor for success in the visitor economy. Despite the enthusiasm for the promised benefits of this approach, there are gaps in understanding the limits and possibilities of making the destination competitive by attracting visitors and expanding their spending, providing a satisfying experience. We study international business tourism in Sao Paulo city to empirically explore how length of stay determines different dimensions of tourist satisfaction. Estimates indicate that length of stay negatively affects the satisfaction dimensions studied. Likewise, there is no evidence of the existence of a curvilinear relationship between these variables. Implications for policy makers and business management are presented.
Abreu-NovaisMRuhanenLArcodiaC (2016) Destination competitiveness: what we know, what we know but shouldn’t and what we don’t know but should. Current Issues in Tourism19(6): 492–512. DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2015.1091443.
AlbaityMMelhemSB (2017) Novelty seeking, image, and loyalty—The mediating role of satisfaction and moderating role of length of stay: International tourists’ perspective. Tourism Management Perspectives23: 30–37. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmp.2017.04.001.
4.
AlegreJPouL (2006) The length of stay in the demand for tourism. Tourism Management27(6): 1343–1355. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2005.06.012.
5.
AlegreJMateoSPouL (2011) A latent class approach to tourists’ length of stay. Tourism Management32(3): 555–563. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.003.
BarrosCPMachadoLP (2010) The length of stay in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research37(3): 692–706. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2009.12.005.
8.
BarrosCPCorreiaACrouchG (2008) Determinants of the length of stay in Latin American tourism destinations. Tourism Analysis13(4): 329–340.
9.
BarrosCPButlerRCorreiaA (2010) The length of stay of golf tourism: A survival analysis. Tourism Management31(1): 13–21. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2009.02.010.
10.
BavikACorreiaAKozakM (2021) What Makes Our Stay Longer or Shorter? A Study on Macau. Journal of China Tourism Research17(2): 192–209. DOI: 10.1080/19388160.2020.1745346.
11.
BridaJGMeledduMPulinaM (2013) Factors influencing length of stay of cultural tourists. Tourism Economics19(6): 1273–1292. DOI: 10.5367/te.2013.0248.
12.
ChiCGQQuH (2008) Examining the structural relationships of destination image, tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty: An integrated approach. Tourism Management29(4): 624–636. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2007.06.007.
13.
CroesRRiveraMA (2010) Testing the empirical link between tourism and competitiveness: Evidence from Puerto Rico. Tourism Economics16(1): 217–234. DOI: 10.5367/000000010790872114.
14.
CronjéDFdu PlessisE (2020) A review on tourism destination competitiveness. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management45: 256–265. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.06.012.
15.
CrouchGI (2011) Destination competitiveness: An analysis of determinant attributes. Journal of Travel Research50(1): 27–45. DOI: 10.1177/0047287510362776.
16.
CrouchGIRitchieJRB (1999) Tourism, competitiveness, and societal prosperity. Journal of Business Research44(3): 137–152. DOI: 10.1016/S0148-2963(97)00196-3.
17.
DaviesBManganJ (1992) Family expenditure on hotels and holidays. Annals of Tourism Research19(4): 691–699. DOI: 10.1016/0160-7383(92)90061-S.
18.
DwyerLKimC (2003) Destination competitiveness: Determinants and indicators. Current Issues in Tourism6(5): 369–414. DOI: 10.1080/13683500308667962.
19.
Ferrer-RosellBMartínez-GarciaECoendersG (2014) Package and no-frills air carriers as moderators of length of stay. Tourism Management42: 114–122. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2013.11.002.
20.
FleischerAPizamA (2002) Tourism constraints among Israeli seniors. Annals of Tourism Research29(1): 106–123. DOI: 10.1016/S0160-7383(01)00026-3.
21.
FleischerARivlinJ (2009) Quality, quantity and duration decisions in household demand for vacations. Tourism Economics15(3): 513–530. DOI: 10.5367/000000009789036558.
22.
GokovaliUBaharOKozakM (2007) Determinants of length of stay: A practical use of survival analysis. Tourism Management28(3): 736–746. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2006.05.004.
23.
Gómez-VegaMPicazo-TadeoA (2019) Ranking world tourist destinations with a composite indicator of competitiveness: To weigh or not to weigh?Tourism Management72: 281–291. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.11.006.
24.
GooroochurnNSugiyartoG (2005) Competitiveness indicators in the travel and tourism industry. Tourism Economics11(1): 25–43. DOI: 10.5367/0000000053297130.
25.
GrigolonABBorgersAWJKempermanADAM, et al. (2014) Vacation length choice: A dynamic mixed multinomial logit model. Tourism Management41: 158–167. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2013.09.002.
26.
GuizzardiAStacchiniA (2017) Inbound Tourists in Italy: An Analysis of Individual Satisfaction in the Main Italian Destinations. Almatourism: journal of Tourism, Culture and Territorial Development14(7): 198–216.
27.
HamidPN (1973) Exposure Frequency and Stimulus Preference. British Journal of Psychology64(4): 569–577. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1973.tb01383.x.
28.
HanafiahMHHemdiMAAhmadI (2016) Tourism destination competitiveness: Towards a performance-based approach. Tourism Economics22(3): 629–636. DOI: 10.5367/te.2014.0446.
29.
JaafarMKhoshkamM (2014) Length of Stay and Tourism Facility Assessment: The Viewpoint of Malaysian Tourists at Langkawi. SHS Web of Conferences12: 01031. DOI: 10.1051/shsconf/20141201031.
30.
JeongCHollandS (2012) Destination Image Saturation. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing29(6): 501–519. DOI: 10.1080/10548408.2012.701162.
31.
JurdanaDSFrletaDS (2017) Satisfaction as a determinant of tourist expenditure. Current Issues in Tourism20(7). Taylor & Francis: 691–704. DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2016.1175420.
32.
KimYRLiuAWilliamsAM (2021) Competitiveness in the visitor economy: A systematic literature review. Tourism Economics0(0): 135481662110344. DOI: 10.1177/13548166211034437.
33.
KulendranNWittSF (2003) Forecasting the demand for international business tourism. Journal of Travel Research41(3): 265–271. DOI: 10.1177/0047287502239034.
34.
LiGSongHCaoZ, et al. (2013) How competitive is Hong Kong against its competitors? An econometric study. Tourism Management36: 247–256. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2012.11.019.
35.
LindJTMehlumH (2010) With or without u? the appropriate test for a U-shaped relationship. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics72(1): 109–118. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0084.2009.00569.x.
36.
MachadoLP (2010) Does destination image influence the length of stay in a tourism destination?Tourism Economics16(2): 443–456. DOI: 10.5367/000000010791305554.
37.
MakJMoncurJYonamineD (1977) Determinants of Visitor Expenditures and Visitor Lengths of Stay: A Cross-Section Analysis of U.S. Visitors to Hawaii. Journal of Travel Research15(3): 5–8. DOI: 10.1177/004728757701500302.
38.
Martínez-GarciaERayaJM (2008) Length of stay for low-cost tourism. Tourism Management29(6): 1064–1075. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2008.02.011.
39.
MenezesAGMonizAVieiraJC (2008) The determinants of length of stay of tourists in the Azores. Tourism Economics14(1): 205–222. DOI: 10.5367/000000008783554866.
40.
Moll-de-AlbaJPratsLCorominaL (2016) The need to adapt to travel expenditure patterns. A study comparing business and leisure tourists in Barcelona. Eurasian Business Review6(2): 253–267. DOI: 10.1007/s40821-016-0046-4.
41.
NealJD (2004) The effect of length of stay on travelers’ perceived satisfaction with service quality. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism4(3–4): 167–176. DOI: 10.1300/J162v04n03_11.
42.
NealJDGursoyD (2008) A multifaceted analysis of tourism satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research47(1): 53–62. DOI: 10.1177/0047287507312434.
43.
NealJDUysalMSirgyJM (2007) The effect of tourism services on travelers’ quality of life. Journal of Travel Research46(2): 154–163. DOI: 10.1177/0047287507303977.
44.
NicolauJMásF (2009) Simultaneous analysis of whether and how long to go on holidays. Service Industries Journal29(8): 1077–1092. DOI: 10.1080/02642060902764467.
45.
OppermannM (1994) Length of stay and spatial distribution. Annals of Tourism Research21(4): 834–836. DOI: 10.1016/0160-7383(94)90087-6.
46.
OppermannM (2000) Tourism destination loyalty. Journal of Travel Research39: 78.
PeypochNRandriamboarisonRRasoamananjaraF, et al. (2012) The length of stay of tourists in Madagascar. Tourism Management33(5): 1230–1235. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2011.11.003.
49.
PrayagGHosanySOdehK (2013) The role of tourists’ emotional experiences and satisfaction in understanding behavioral intentions. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management2(2): 118–127. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2013.05.001.
50.
QianJLawRWeiJ (2018) Effect of cultural distance on tourism: A study of pleasure visitors in Hong Kong. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism19(2): 269–284. DOI: 10.1080/1528008X.2017.1410079.
51.
Raya-VilchezJMMartínez-GarciaE (2011) Nationality and low-cost trip duration. A microeconometric analysis. Journal of Air Transport Management17(3): 168–174. DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2010.12.005.
52.
RayaJM (2012) Length of stay for triathlon participants in the challenge maresme-barcelona: A survival approach. Journal of Sport and Social Issues36(1): 89–105. DOI: 10.1177/0193723511433868.
53.
RitchieJRBCrouchGI (2003) The Competitive Destination: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective. Wallingford: CAB International.
54.
RoehlWSFesenmaierDR (1996) Modelling the influence of information obtained at state welcome centers on visitor expenditures. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing4(3): 19–28. DOI: 10.1300/J073v04n03_02.
55.
Salinas FernándezJASerdeira AzevedoPMartín MartínJM (2020) Determinants of tourism destination competitiveness in the countries most visited by international tourists: Proposal of a synthetic index. Tourism Management Perspectives33: 100582. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmp.2019.100582.
56.
SalmasiLCelidoniMProcidanoI (2012) Mapping Landscape Values andLength of Stay: Price and Income Semi‐Elasticities at Different Destinations in Italy. International Journal of Tourism Research14: 5151–5530. DOI: 10.1002/jtr.
57.
SantosGE de O (2016) An efficient method for modelling tourists’ length of stay. Tourism Economics22(6): 1367–1379. DOI: 10.5367/te.2015.0490.
58.
SantosGE de ORamosVRey-MaquieiraJ (2015) Length of Stay at Multiple Destinations of Tourism Trips in Brazil. Journal of Travel Research54(6): 788–800. DOI: 10.1177/0047287514532370.
59.
Sanz-BlasSBuzovaDCarvajal-TrujilloE (2019) Familiarity and Visit Characteristics as Determinants of Tourists’ Experience at a Cruise Destination. Tourism Management Perspectives30: 1–10. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmp.2019.01.005.
60.
PauloSão (2019) PLATUM - Plano de Turismo Municipal. Cidade de São Paulo 2019/2021: Perspectiva 2030. Sao Paulo: São Paulo Turismo.
61.
ShovalNBirenboimA (2019) Customization and augmentation of experiences through mobile technologies: A paradigm shift in the analysis of destination competitiveness. Tourism Economics25(5): 661–669. DOI: 10.1177/1354816618806428.
62.
SmeralE (2009) The impact of the financial and economic crisis on European tourism. Journal of Travel Research48(1): 3–13. DOI: 10.1177/0047287509336332.
63.
SmeralEWügerM (2005) Does complexity matter? Methods for improving forecasting accuracy in tourism: The case of Austria. Journal of Travel Research44(1): 100–110. DOI: 10.1177/0047287505276596.
64.
SongHvan der VeenRLiG (2012) The Hong Kong tourist satisfaction index. Annals of Tourism Research39(1): 459–479. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2011.06.001.
65.
TanDTsuiK (2017) Investigating causality in international air freight and business travel: The case of Australia. Urban Studies54(5): 1178–1193. DOI: 10.1177/0042098015620520.
66.
ThraneC (2015) Research note: The determinants of tourists’ length of stay: Some further modelling issues. Tourism Economics21(5): 1087–1093. DOI: 10.5367/te.2014.0385.
67.
ThraneC (2016) Modelling tourists’ length of stay: A call for a ‘back-to-basic’ approach. Tourism Economics22(6): 1352–1366. DOI: 10.5367/te.2015.0489.
68.
ThraneCFarstadE (2011) Domestic tourism expenditures: The non-linear effects of length of stay and travel party size. Tourism Management32(1): 46–52. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2009.11.002.
69.
ThraneCFarstadE (2012) Tourists’ length of stay: The case of international summer visitors to Norway. Tourism Economics18(5): 1069–1082. DOI: 10.5367/te.2012.0158.
70.
TsaiHSongHWongKKF (2009) Tourism and hotel competitiveness research. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing26(5–6): 522–546. DOI: 10.1080/10548400903163079.
71.
TsuiWHKFungMKY (2016) Causality between business travel and trade volumes: Empirical evidence from Hong Kong. Tourism Management52: 395–404. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2015.07.010.
72.
TsuiWHKBalliFTanDTW (2018) New Zealand Business Tourism: Exploring the Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainties. Berlin: Springer. DOI: 10.1177/1354816617731387.
73.
United Nation (2018) World Urbanization Prospects 2018: Highlights. New York: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.
74.
UysalMMcDonaldCDO’LearyJT (1988) Length Of Stay: A Macro Analysis For Cross-Country Skiing Trips. Journal of Travel Research26(3): 29–31. DOI: 10.1177/004728758802600308.
75.
WangLFongDKCLawR (2018) Length of Stay: Its Determinants and Outcomes. Journal of Travel Research57(4): 472–482. DOI: 10.1177/0047287517700315.
76.
WebsterCIvanovS (2014) Transforming competitiveness into economic benefits: Does tourism stimulate economic growth in more competitive destinations?Tourism Management40: 137–140. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2013.06.003.
77.
WillisCLadkinAJainJ (2017) Present whilst absent: Home and the business tourist gaze. Annals of Tourism Research63: 48–59. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2016.10.008.
78.
World Economic Forum (2019) The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019. Geneva: World Economic Forum (WEF).
79.
World Tourism Organization (2019) UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2019 Edition. Madrid: World Economic Forum (WEF). DOI: 10.18111/9789284421152.
80.
YangYWongKKFZhangJ (2011) Determinants of length of stay for domestic tourists: Case study of yixing. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research16(6): 619–633. DOI: 10.1080/10941665.2011.610144.
81.
YoonYUysalM (2005) An examination of the effects of motivation and satisfaction on destination loyalty: A structural model. Tourism Management26(1): 45–56. DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2003.08.016.
