The effects of airline choice on accommodation type and length of stay : evidence of an islands region

This study aims to analyze the influence of the entrance of low-cost carriers in the Azores in terms of the determinants of the number of overnight stays and the choice of accommodation type. Different methods of statistical analysis were used for the empirical study. Estimates were considered based on variables related to the trip. In addition, a different variable was considered in the estimates of the type of accommodation: the tourist’s perception of the importance of the existence of several types of accommodations, quantified on a qualitative scale. The results indicate that tourists traveling to the Azores on low-cost carriers tend to stay fewer days at the destination, although these tourists may have other characteristics that predispose them to shorter stays. Finally, the results suggest that the characteristics related to travel are explanatory variables in the choice of accommodation type.