Satisfaction, seasonality and tourist expenditure in consolidated tourist destinations

In recent years, tourism literature has been incorporating tourist satisfaction as a determinant of competitiveness and expenditure in destinations. It was expected a direct relationship between the variables: the better the experience, the greater the expenditure. However, previous literature has not found a strong relationship between them. This study attempts to address this gap by analysing a data survey from Calp, a consolidated destination on the Spanish Mediterranean coastline, using a static comparative exercise between different tourism seasons. As a novel theoretical contribution, seasonality and the different items of expenditure are included in the analysis. In accordance with the previous literature, the result obtained does not confirm a close relationship between satisfaction and expenditure. Some managerial implications are also suggested.