A Multi-Brand/Multi-Attribute Model of Tourist State Choice

A model based upon state attributes was developed to approximate the tour ists' state selection judgment process. A selected set of descriptive attributes was presented to tourists visiting Massachusetts as part of a noncompetitive state eval uation process. The model, developed using multiple discriminant analysis, was used to describe the tourists' preferences for visiting Massachusetts as opposed to other northern New England states. The analysis found different attributes to be determi nant of state selection for two tourist segments differentiated by the extent of overall familiarily with Massachusetts. These findings have implications for communica tion programs and state public policy decisions.