This study aims at providing an economic explanation fbr the observed varie
ty in the actual consumer choice of destinations. Despite its contribution
to tourism research, the traditional demand theory Is insufficient to justi
fy comprehensively the direction of tourist flows in space and time, mainly
because it cannot account for the importance of product differentiation an
d corporate power. To address these issues, the Gorman/Lancaster, character
istics framework is applied to tourism and a comparative exercise is undert
aken in six different fields. The theoretical conclusions are appealing as
they match demand and supply, offering a holistic answer to the question of
tourist choice and a useful benchmark for further research in the area.