Tourism segmentation research has focused on (1) developing tourist segment profiles
using primary and secondary tourist data and (2) understanding which segmentation
bases can accurately predict future tourist behaviour. Researchers have not considered
how tourism stakeholders are segmenting their tourist markets. This paper presents
evidence to suggest that the use of combined segmentation variables to develop tourism
profiles is warranted and that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not suitable because
different tourism stakeholders within a single destination attract different tourists.
Furthermore, this research identified that the segments used by the destination
marketing organisation failed to holistically describe the tourist groups using the
different services provided by tourism stakeholders within a single destination.
Destination marketing is complex involving many stakeholders each likely to be
attracting different tourist segments and future research endeavours must acknowledge
this complexity.