Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal
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 enviro...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-05-01
|
Series: | Sustainability |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4025 |
id |
doaj-3955e280baba41c0a116e4d445e54852 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-3955e280baba41c0a116e4d445e548522020-11-25T02:33:17ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-05-01124025402510.3390/su12104025Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in PortugalFidel Martínez-Roget0José Alberto Moutela1Xosé A. Rodríguez2Department of Applied Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Xoán XIII, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDoctoral Programme in Economics and Business, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Xoán XIII, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Quantitative Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Xoán XXIII, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainThere 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4025length of staysustainabilityrural areasmotivationHeckman models |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Fidel Martínez-Roget José Alberto Moutela Xosé A. Rodríguez |
spellingShingle |
Fidel Martínez-Roget José Alberto Moutela Xosé A. Rodríguez Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal Sustainability length of stay sustainability rural areas motivation Heckman models |
author_facet |
Fidel Martínez-Roget José Alberto Moutela Xosé A. Rodríguez |
author_sort |
Fidel Martínez-Roget |
title |
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal |
title_short |
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal |
title_full |
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal |
title_fullStr |
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal |
title_sort |
length of stay and sustainability: evidence from the schist villages network (svn) in portugal |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2020-05-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
length of stay sustainability rural areas motivation Heckman models |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4025 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT fidelmartinezroget lengthofstayandsustainabilityevidencefromtheschistvillagesnetworksvninportugal AT josealbertomoutela lengthofstayandsustainabilityevidencefromtheschistvillagesnetworksvninportugal AT xosearodriguez lengthofstayandsustainabilityevidencefromtheschistvillagesnetworksvninportugal |
_version_ |
1724815046107725824 |