Cohort Analysis of Tourists' Spending on Lodging During Recreational Fishing Trips

Abstract

Utilizing Palmore's analytic strategy in cohort analysis, the present study was designed to investigate cohort differences and longitudinal change in lodging expenditure on recreational fishing trips. the study examined recreational fishing tourists' lodging expenditure behavior in the context of rural tourism. national survey data for 2001 and 2006 fishing, hunting, and wildlife-associated recreation were analyzed to conduct cohort analysis. Findings showed that lodging expenditure in 2006 increased as much as 40% from figures for 2001. that increase was primarily due to changes in tourists' taste and social structure. the study pays particular attention to the social changes anticipated as baby boomers retire. the senior baby boomer cohort in this study provided an explanation for why and how senior baby boomer tourists behaved differently than the broader tourism market. Academically, the study approached tourism's economic contribution at the macrolevel (tourism industry wide) and microlevel (tourists' spending behavior). the study suggested that the macroapproaches and microapproaches could provide in-depth understanding of tourists' behavior.