ABSTRACT
This study examines the influence of tourist demographic profile on determining the purpose of visiting a destination. The study assesses the key demographic features of tourists such as nationality, gender, age, marital status, income and simultaneously analyses the impact of these demographic features on the purpose of visiting a destination which have been categorised as leisure and recreation holidays, visiting friends and relatives, business, studies/education, and others. The study focuses on two heritage tourism destinations of Karnataka – Mysore and Hampi. Judgemental sampling method was used to collect the data to identify respondents who have visited both destinations, not just one, to give an unbiased opinion. Form one hundred and fifty (150) tourists who have visited both Mysore and Hampi, to collect the sample. Based on the data gathered the study, therefore, attempts to identify the various socio-demographic features which influence travel decisions. Statistical analysis including Crosstabulation, Chi-Square Test, and Frequency Analysis, were conducted to test the Hypothesis and Sub-Hypothesis using SPSS software to determine the relationship between each individual demographic features and the purpose of visiting a destination. The study also identifies the various sources of destination promotion, as well as suggest the ways and means for improving the number of tourists at the destination.
