An agent-based model of tourist movements in New Zealand

Abstract

This chapter outlines the development of an agent-based model to simulate international tourist movements and their “spatial yield”. A combination of interviews with tourists and front-line tourism workers was used to inform the development of tourists' decision-making processes. Data collected by departing tourists on destinations, length of stay, nationality and several other parameters were used to characterise the so later tourist groups. Both data sets allowed for the development of the conceptual model for tourist behaviours and for the parameterisation of the simulation model.