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Tourists’ Preferences for Stargazing Land Resources

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos Fernández-Hernández

    (Department of Applied Economics and Quantitative Methods, Campus de Guajara, University of La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

  • Jorge E. Araña

    (Department of Applied Economic Analysis, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

  • Javier de León

    (Institute for Tourism and Economic Sustainable Development, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

  • Carmelo J. León

    (Institute for Tourism and Economic Sustainable Development, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

Abstract

Stargazing tourism is an expanding market niche that requires the development of territorial resources for its implementation and attraction. This paper’s objective is to investigate the preferences and willingness to pay of tourists for the development of strategic land resources for stargazing tourism activities. The field work was conducted on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands), which is promoting the territorial development of infrastructures for stargazing tourism. A random sample of 734 tourists were interviewed in person on-site in December 2019 following the methodology discrete choice experiments that enabled an estimation of tourists’ preferences and willingness to pay for the implementation of key land resources for stargazing. The data are modeled using a latent class model that allows for the consideration of heterogeneous preferences. The results show that there are three groups of tourists with different preferences for land resources of stargazing observation. These segments are respectively related to the interests in culture, active, and astronomic tourism. Those tourists in the active stargazing segment share the largest proportion of the market and favor the implementation of facilities that allow the combination of active tourism with stargazing. The results are useful for land product development and territorial strategies aimed at positioning destinations in the identified demand niches of stargazing tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Fernández-Hernández & Jorge E. Araña & Javier de León & Carmelo J. León, 2022. "Tourists’ Preferences for Stargazing Land Resources," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:198-:d:735326
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hjalager, Anne-Mette, 2010. "A review of innovation research in tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 1-12.
    2. Benur, Abdelati M. & Bramwell, Bill, 2015. "Tourism product development and product diversification in destinations," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 213-224.
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