Modeling the tourist's urban experience: a new approach to international tourism product development based on urban quality of life

Abstract

<p>A new way of identifying key strategic variables for the development and international marketing of a nation's urban tourism products is conceptualized. The attractiveness of cities is assessed from numerous urban livability measures and subjective importance weights obtained from a survey of foreign tourists. This urban attractiveness index forms part of a causal model of the urban tourist's experience, and identifies factors causing variations in tourist satisfaction with a visit to a city. The model would enable strategic planners to specify the antecedents of urban tourist satisfaction with greater prec1s1on. This would indicate the appropriate means of marketing a country's major cities, for the purpose of international tourism development.</p>