The impact of psychological distance on tourists’ length of stay: Survival analysis

Abstract

This paper argues that LOS is a reflection of the distance between a tourist's origin and destination country. Past interpretations of distance have been based solely on spatial parameters. This study moves beyond physical distance and instead considers psychological distance, a multilayered construct. In this view, countries may be ‘‘distant’’ from one another in various ways; economic, social, cultural, religious, and political differences can cause problems for the tourism sector. This multidimensional definition of distance yields a more informative and comprehensive picture of the determinants of LOS. The results indicate that tourists' LOS in Iran increased alongside perceived cultural distance but that it is inversely related to perceived religious, social, economic, and politic distance. This demonstrates the importance of tailoring destination marketing and management efforts to improve promotional campaigns targeting market segments that are likely to stay longer. One way to work toward these aims is to reduce the perception of psychological distance.