Market segmentation and their potential economic impacts in an ecotourism destination

A study on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan, identifies four distinct clusters of ecotourism visitors based on their motivations, information search behaviors, and activities. These clusters vary significantly in their ecological awareness and economic impact, highlighting the need to balance sustainability with economic viability. The research employs a model-based latent class analysis to segment the heterogeneous tourist market, providing actionable insights for management strategies that can maximize benefits for the local economy while preserving ecological integrity.

Neuts, B., Romão, J., Nijkamp, P., & Shikida, A. (2016). Market segmentation and their potential economic impacts in an ecotourism destination. Tourism Economics, 22(4), 793–808. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816616654252