Attributes of repeat visitors to small tourist-oriented communities

This study investigates the characteristics of small tourist towns to discern why visitors want to return. It examines how accessibility, physical and cultural amenities, the social setting, and the prestige of places influence repeat-tourism. A survey assessed the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of visitors to three small towns in Texas: an ethnocultural and craft center, a summer beach community, and an artisan marketplace. Discriminant analyses showed that shorter travel distance and the presence of friends or family are the characteristics most strongly related to repeat visitation.