Exploring the Moderating Role of Average Length of Stay in the Relationship Between International Tourist Arrival and Tourism Revenue: Evidence from 2000 to 2024 in Cambodia

This study explores the moderating role of average length of stay (ALS) in the relationship between international tourist arrivals and tourism revenue in Cambodia, using annual data from 2000 to 2024. The research addresses four key hypotheses through correlation and multiple regression analyses. Findings provide strong support for H1, confirming a highly significant and positive relationship between international arrivals and tourism revenue (R² = 0.966, p < 0.001), with each additional visitor associated with approximately USD642 in revenue. In contrast, H2 is not supported, as ALS exhibited no significant effect on revenue (p = 0.176) and showed a weak negative correlation. The combined model in H3 significantly predicts revenue (R² = 0.967), but this predictive power is largely driven by arrivals, with ALS remaining insignificant (p = 0.458). Lastly, H4 which tested whether ALS moderates the relationship between arrivals and revenue, is not supported—the interaction term was statistically insignificant (p = 0.442), indicating that the influence of international arrivals on revenue remains stable regardless of stay duration. These results align with previous research who found that longer stays often lead to reduced daily spending and limited revenue gains. The study concludes that focusing on increasing tourist volume may yield more substantial economic benefits than extending visitor stays. It contributes to sustainable tourism policy discussions by emphasizing the need to align destination strategies with visitor behavior and economic realities.