Travel horizon: a valuable analysis tool?

Abstract

This paper tests the usefulness of Schmidhauser's (1976/1977) travel horizon concept in analysing travel behavior and accumulated travel experience. Based on a pilot study of New Zealand residents it shows that the concept appears valid, as the travel horizon of the respondents had expanded as proposed by Schmidhauser. However, it is here argued that the concept of travel horizons needs to be modified in order to reflect long-term travel patterns and, therefore, the concept of destination zone horizons is suggested, which recognizes that an individual can ascend as well as descend on the horizon ladder. Destination zone horizons can be used by destinations' marketing organizations in segmenting their market for a greater effectiveness of their marketing efforts.