An Analysis of the Differences between State Welcome Center Users and Local Visitor Center Users: A Profile of Louisiana Travelers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the existing body of highway visitor research by investigating differences between visitors to state welcome centers and visitors to local welcome centers. More than 3,000 self-administered questionnaires collected in state and local visitor centers throughout Louisiana were used to differentiate automobile travelers. State visitor center users significantly differed from local center visitors for most behavioral trip characteristics. This study confirms previous findings that users of state welcome centers are not representative of all automobile travelers. States that want to conduct visitor profile studies at welcome centers should include local welcome centers in their studies.