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This article analyses the effect of the length of stay in relation to the constructs of motivation, satisfaction, image, repetition and recommendation. The theoretical model is based on the literature and uses structural equation modelling with multi-group analysis. The size of the sample is 10,953 interviews to tourists. The results confirm most of the hypotheses. For example, image has an effect on tourist's repeat visitation, recommendation and satisfaction. Furthermore, differences are found among the effects of the variables according to short and long break tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short break trips in urban destinations are clearly increasing, and this fact has implications for destinations linked to the different length of stay segments. Thus, this paper analyses the duration of the stay in relation to motivation, satisfaction, image, repetition and recommendation of leisure tourists in an urban destination. The main contribution of this article is to highlight the differences and similarities between the behaviours of short and long breakers for the constructs mentioned, not developed until now. The theoretical model is validated using a structural equation modelling methodology. The sample size is 10,953 tourists visiting the city of Barcelona, relevant for its increasing tourism appeal. Results confirm that differences and similarities are found for those tourist segments. By way of example it is worth mentioning that the repeat visits have a negative effect on tourists' recommendation, in particular in the case of long break as compared with short break tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]