Tourists' Intention of Returning to a Visited Destination: Cruise Ship Passengers in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Abstract

This study contributes to the growing literature on repeat visitation by examining the factors that affect a cruise ship passenger's stated likelihood of returning to a visited port as a stayover tourist. Results from a survey on cruise ship passengers that stopped in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) during the second semester of 2009 suggest that about one half of the respondents plan a return trip to the area. We show that the probability of returning to the destination depends positively on the residence geographic area, on the level of satisfaction declared by the passenger, on the time spent out the ship, and especially on whether the tourist usually travels in cruises. The average visitor wanting to return as stayover tourist is thus male, lives in the Caribbean area, is highly educated, young, on his first cruise, on an self-organized visit, and has spend a lot of time in port and experienced satisfactory services and security.