The characteristics of total consumption and each consumption item by tourists overall and by tourists' age for domestic accommodation travel

Abstract

To support the understanding of tourist needs, this paper examines the characteristics of tourists' consumptions by age and consumption items. The main results are as follows: (1) For total consumption, ages 40s to 60s consume more than the other age groups. However, if we view each of the consumption items, it was found that 30s and 50s spend more on food/ beverage and entrance fee/attraction costs than the other age groups. (2) Total consumption per capita is higher for 60s and above. Though there were differences depending on the consumption item such as the consumption per capita for accommodation costs and souvenir/shopping costs being lower as the age groups became younger. (3) Differences in the share of consumption of each item was also found amongst the age groups with teenagers and 60s and above showing a preference of spending on participation costs. These results may support tourism sites and transportation organisations with their strategies to develop tourism in the future.