Tourists’ Life Satisfaction at Home and Away: A Tale of Two Cities

This study examined satisfaction with life in the context of seasonal migrants who routinely live at a destination for an extended period of time each year. Findings from 1,257 seasonal migrants in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas indicate that in general the migrants are more active and more satisfied with life at the destination than at their hometowns and that specifically female migrants are more satisfied with life at the destination than male migrants. Importantly, the study also found that the migrants’ satisfaction with culture, health and safety, and financial life domains; their activities both at the destination and in comparison to their activities at home; and their satisfaction with life at home contribute to greater satisfaction with life at the destination. Finally, satisfaction with life at the destination significantly affects the likelihood that the seasonal migrants will return and recommend the destination to others.