Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
measuring broad changes in demand. Variation in
the number of arrivals month by month is quite
signi cant because it indicates the rise and fall of
demand during the course of a year.
Arrival data become more of a problem if a large
proportion of visitors arrive by private automobile
on many major highways. In this case, a sampling
method is employed, sometimes involving a tourist
information center. Those stopping at the center
are asked to fill out a card with data about their
trip. The total number of visitors is then estimated,
based on the sample obtained.
Visitors coming through seaports should be
classi ed according to the United Nations
Tourists seek out famous
sights such as the Leaning
Tower of Pisa in Italy and
create visitor-days and
visitor-nights, which are a
convenient way of
measuring travel demand.
PhotocourtesyofCorbis
DigitalStock.
de -
nition of tourists and excursionists. Excursionists
remain in an area for less than 24 hours, whereas
tourists stay 24 hours or longer. Arrival statistics
should not include those who enter the country
illegally, air travelers who do not leave the air-
port transit area, or analogous cases.
'
Visitor-Days or Visitor-Nights
Data on visitor-days and visitor-nights are much more valuable to tourism planners than are data on
the number of arrivals. To calculate the former, the number of visitors is multiplied by their average
length of stay. Public park planners and beach managers are interested in visitor-day figures. Hotel and
other accommodations people want data on visitor-nights. When such data are obtained, it is not
dif cult to make an estimate of the likely expenditures made per visitor per day or night. But these
expenditure figures are at best only estimates and need to be used carefully. Data on visitor-days and
visitor-nights are of great bene t to planners who work on public facilities for tourists, such as utility
systems, parking, and recreation areas. Similarly, private developers planning new hotels or other
accommodations or services want and need visitor-night information. Thus, visitor-days and/or
visitor-nights are the most practical data to obtain and are useful to tourism people.
D
¼
No
:
of visitors
Avg
:
no
:
of days or nights at destination
Amount Spent
Amount spent
is the most meaningful measure of demand, if it is determined accurately. However, it
is the most dif cult measure to obtain. Statistics of this type tend to be hidden or partially forgotten by
the visitor. Thus, they are not as accurate as desired. However, to members of legislatures and the
public, total tourist expenditures are the most easily understood and the most impressive.
The most common method of estimating tourist expenditures is to multiply visitor-days or visitor-
nights by the average per-day or per-night expenditure. Thus,
D
ð
$
Þ¼
No
:
of visitor-days or visitor-nights
Avg
:
expenditures per day
=
night
Total expenditures in an area consist of the visitor-day and visitor-night total expenditures over a
speci ed period of time.
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