Abstract
In this paper, we characterise tourists most likely to visit a coastal destination by high-speed rail (HSR). Our data came from a survey conducted among HSR passengers during 2014’s high season (July and August) at Spain’s Camp de Tarragona and Alicante Stations, each of which is near a mass tourism destination on the Mediterranean coast: the Costa Daurada and the Costa Blanca, respectively. We used responses to the survey, which presented binary discrete-choice situations, to construct a database necessary for a logistic regression model that allowed us to examine how passenger profile, trip characteristics, and stay conditions influenced the use of HSR services on visits to each coastal destination. Results highlighted significant differences in the profiles of tourists who arrived at each destination by HSR and, in turn, that no specific tourist profile is associated with HSR, even for two stations that serve sunny beach destinations. Among its implications, to analyse travellers that HSR can attract, it is vital to consider the specific characteristics of each destination and its current market.
Highlights
In recent decades, as part of what some authors have called the ‘second railway age’ [1], European cities and provincial regions have experienced the expansion of the high-speed rail (HSR) network
We selected Alicante and Camp de Tarragona HSR Stations as case studies (Fig 1) because each is located near a coastal destination for mass tourism: respectively, the Costa Blanca and the Costa Daurada
Our study focused on travellers returning from spending their summer holidays on the Costa Blanca in Alicante Province and the Costa Daurada in Tarragona Province
Summary
As part of what some authors have called the ‘second railway age’ [1], European cities and provincial regions have experienced the expansion of the high-speed rail (HSR) network. The national agendas of many EU countries include plans to expand that network from its current 8,000 km of HSR track to 21,000 km by 2025 (according to data from the UIC, December 2015). Spain’s HSR network has experienced the most significant growth in the last two decades, which has resulted in the country’s current 3,100-km network and 31 stations. Even despite the impact of the recent global financial crisis on Spain’s economy and public spending, the country continues to have the most ambitious plans in the EU for expanding its national HSR network in the coming years, with 1,909 km of HSR track.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
