Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal

Fidel Martínez-Roget, José Alberto Moutela and Xosé Rodríguez
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Fidel Martínez-Roget: Department of Applied Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Xoán XIII, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
José Alberto Moutela: Doctoral Programme in Economics and Business, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Xoán XIII, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: There is evidence that increasing the Length of Stay (LOS) contributes to the sustainability of destinations. This paper analyzes LOS determinants in the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal, where almost half of the visitors are same-day visitors. Given that these visitors generate more environmental impacts, an increase in LOS would help guide tourism towards more sustainable standards. The analysis was performed using several Heckman selection models. Unlike the findings of previous studies, LOS depended mainly on the characteristics of the trip and the destination—not on visitor profile—and can therefore be considered a highly specific form of tourism. Comparatively, motivations associated with rest, residents’ hospitality, and local produce consumption encourage visitors to extend their stay, thereby boosting tourism sustainability. The SVN is also shown to have various cultural and heritage resources that are currently highly valued. However, the leisure offer is insufficient to increase LOS. Furthermore, conventional advertising was not shown to be effective in raising LOS compared with word-of-mouth (WOM). The paper concludes that measures should be adopted to increase the local produce offer, retain population, maintain traditional village activities, and attract visitors from nearby regions. These actions could increase overnight stays and LOS, contributing to more sustainable development.

Keywords: length of stay; sustainability; rural areas; motivation; Heckman models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4025-:d:358131

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