Cross-border tourism and the regional economy: a typology of the ignored shopper

While previous studies have acknowledged the importance of cross border travellers to regional economic development, the significance of visitors from less developed and emerging nations, has received only limited academic attention. Through the application of market segmentation techniques to Laotian tourists, this paper identifies complex patterns of purchase behaviour that includes functional and utilitarian motives as well as more hedonistic practices. Such findings suggest that the economic impact of cross border travellers is not confined to the tourism and hospitality industries and that differences in consumption behaviour affords opportunities for a range of local businesses and service providers.