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Likelihood of Cruise Ship Passenger Return to a Visited Port: The Case of Bar Harbor, Maine

University of Maine in Oronotodd.gabe{at}umit.maine.edu

Colleen P. Lynch

Shenandoah, Virginia.

James C. McConnon, Jr.

University of Maine in Orono

Cruise ship visits provide an often overlooked benefit of showcasing port communities to thousands of potential repeat tourists. Using data from a survey conducted in 2002, this study examines the factors that affect a cruise ship passenger's intention of returning to Bar Harbor, Maine. Survey results indicate that one-third of the respondents plan to return to town in the two years following their cruise ship visit. Empirical results suggest that the distance between a respondent's place of residence and Bar Harbor has a negative effect on the likelihood of return. The total number of visits a passenger has made to Bar Harbor and the amount of time spent in port during the one-day visit have a positive effect on the likelihood of return. Finally, household income and the experience of taking a cruise-line-sponsored tour do not have a significant effect on a passenger's intention of returning to a visited port.

Key Words: cruise tourism • repeat visitation • coastal tourism • gravity model

Journal of Travel Research, Vol. 44, No. 3, 281-287 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0047287505279107


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