IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/touwis/v14y2022i3p284-302n4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Holiday Preferences and Travel Behavior of German Motorcyclists. A Cluster Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Heide Thomas

    (Munich University of Applied Sciences, Tourism Department, Schachenmeierstraße 35, 80636 München, Germany)

  • Scuttari Anna

    (Munich University of Applied Sciences, Tourism Department, Schachenmeierstraße 35, 80636 München, Germany)

Abstract

Motorcycle tourism offers tourist destinations the opportunity to diversify their offer and pursue competitive advantage and economic success. However, motorcyclists’ holidaymaking practices remain underexplored so far and there is an assumption of homogeneity within the riders’ community. This paper argues that, despite common features, differences might stand out in riders’ motivations and local practices. To investigate these differences, cluster analysis is used to segment German motorcycle tourists, with the aim to identify sub-groups of travellers. Using a convenience sample of n=441 bikers, the paper discriminates three types of motorcycling tourists: the pleasure-seekers, the drifters and the focused bikers. The two-step clustering procedure is based on behavioral patterns (i. e. type of accommodation, group type and length of stay) and the results are later enriched using additional descriptors related to the attractiveness of local offers and the probability of undertaking non-riding activities. Theoretical and managerial implications are ultimately derived, acknowledging the exploratory nature of the research design.

Suggested Citation

  • Heide Thomas & Scuttari Anna, 2022. "Holiday Preferences and Travel Behavior of German Motorcyclists. A Cluster Analysis," Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 14(3), pages 284-302, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:touwis:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:284-302:n:4
    DOI: 10.1515/tw-2022-0019
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2022-0019
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1515/tw-2022-0019?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bpj:touwis:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:284-302:n:4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.degruyter.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.