Leisure Travel Expenditure Patterns by Family Life Cycle Stages

Abstract

This study examines travel expenditure patterns by family life cycle (FLC) stages and identifies characteristics that influence the likelihood and level of travel expenditures in the U.S. The 1999–2000 Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey is used and a two-stage tobit regression analysis is performed. Across the FLC, families maximize their utility through different allocations of resources among leisure travel goods and services as shown by the results of this study. Marrieds without children are more likely to spend on leisure travel than singles, whereas single parents and solitary survivors are less likely to spend on leisure travel than singles. Moreover, Marrieds without children, full nesters II, and empty nesters spend significantly more than singles, whereas solitary survivors spend significantly less on leisure travel. Constraint factors (time and money) and various sociodemographic characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of spending on leisure travel and total expenditures. Based on these findings, implications formarketers are discussed.