Accommodation Facilities Research Articles

The Sustainable Management of Ecohotels for the Support of Ecotourism—A Case Study

Ecotourism represents a modern form of tourism that accepts the principles of sustainable development and the adequacy of the conditions of tourist destinations. The environmental awareness of all parties participating in tourism, objects, and subjects of tourism determines the development of ecotourism. Ecohotels, or “green hotels”, as an integral part of ecotourism, represent tourist accommodation facilities that have the “The Flower” certificate, their business activities minimize the impact on environmental quality. The management of ecohotels therefore implements programs and measures determining sustainable competitiveness at the local, regional, and supra-regional levels in the business in interaction with reducing the carbon footprint, water consumption, energy consumption, and waste production. They also support the use of recyclable materials and bio-products and the introduction of environmental management respecting the principles of green management in all areas of the tourism business. The competitiveness of ecohotels is in interaction with the willingness of tourists to use their pro-environmental services. The presented study is focused on the willingness of tourists to use the services of ecohotels, with an emphasis on identifying an effective strategy for supporting the development of ecotourism in the Slovak Republic. The study concentrates on the willingness of tourists to use ecohotels as part of their tourist activities based on a questionnaire survey. The study identifies the factors of strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats of the use of ecohotels by tourists in supporting the development of ecotourism. Through the exact quantification of the weights of individual factors in terms of Saaty’s matrix and a SWOT analysis, an effective strategy for the use of ecohotels in supporting the development of ecotourism is defined. In recent years, the stimulation and use of tourists’ interest in environmental quality, with an emphasis on reducing negative impacts on the environment, has resonated; thus, a model of effective marketing strategy is presented.

The effect of eating alone on behavioral intention: A case of Rize

In the modernizing and developing world conditions, eating and drinking habits and behaviors of individuals also change. With the effect of this change, consumers' collective eating habits have started to be replaced by individual eating. It is possible to state many reasons for this. The concept of eating alone, which has come to the fore in recent years, is very important for food and beverage businesses. It is because determining the needs of this changing customer profile and knowing the behaviors of this customer profile means determining the steps to be taken for these businesses. Therefore, in this study, the effect of eating alone on behavioral intention was investigated. There is no study examining the relationship between these variables. In addition, bungalow accommodation facilities, which have been under construction in Rize in recent years, are also businesses that will attract the attention of tourists with a eating alone profile. Therefore, it is also important to investigate these variables in Rize. A questionnaire form was created to measure this effect, and a total of 406 usable data were obtained. These data were subjected to various analyses using SPSS 24 and AMOS programs. As a result of these analyses, it was found that eating alone had no significant effect on behavioral intention. This result could not be compared since there is no finding in the literature addressing these variables. Therefore, testing the relationship between eating alone and behavioral intention as a whole through the model created for this research fills the gap in the literature. As a result of this result, suggestions for future studies and tourism policy makers are presented.

Assessing Tourists' Willingness to Pay for Community-Based Ecotourism: Enhancing Sustainability and Local Involvement

Malaysia’s captivating attractions are increasingly promoted through community-based ecotourism (CBE) initiatives. These efforts aim to empower local communities, conserve nature, and generate income by involving locals in managing ecotourism resources and activities, ensuring both economic benefits and sustainability of protected environments. CBE highlights diverse customs and cultures, enhancing ecotourism experiences through local resources. Understanding tourists' attitudes and preferences is crucial for developing sustainable cultural tourism packages. Key inquiries involve measuring local community participation, artistic elements, and tourism offerings in CBE management around protected parks. Evaluating tourism preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for attributes provided by local businesses is essential for effective CBE management strategies in rural areas. This study employs the Choice Experiment model to analyze tourists' preferences for CBE activities and their marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for management attributes at Min House Camp (MHC) in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. The attributes examined include local community involvement, activity packages, accommodation facilities, and information provided. The study found 'super' package activity, increased local participation and employment, excellent accommodation, and adequate information to be the most important attributes. The study suggests that business owners and local managers adopt the CBE concept and focus on the key qualities that have been identified. Local communities and stakeholders should implement new tour packages at MHC, combining desirable features to meet market demand. Future studies could use a mixed logit model to account for multiple attributes of community ecotourism tours in protected parks.

A Strategic Study on the Planning of Accommodation Facilities in Tourist Attractions to Enhance Tourist Experience

In the context of the development of regional tourism, the planning pattern of accommodation facilities in tourist attractions plays a very important role in enhancing tourists’ experience perception, which is conducive to the enhancement of tourists’ goodwill towards tourist attractions. This paper is oriented to the theory of sustainable development, and selects GL city as the research case site to obtain the visitor evaluation data of accommodation facilities in tourist attractions. The evolution trend of tourist attraction accommodation facilities is analyzed by geographic concentration index, standard deviation ellipse, nearest neighbor index, combined with TF-IDF algorithm to extract high-frequency words of tourists’ experience on the planning of tourist attraction accommodation facilities, and coarse-grained tourism review text sentiment classification model is introduced to analyze the tourists’ sentiment evaluation of tourist attraction accommodation facilities. The geographic concentration index of accommodation facilities in tourist attractions increases from 20.19 to 53.72 from 1980 to 2023, and the relative frequency difference between “service” and “room” of hotel facilities in tourist attractions is 4.35 percentage points, while that of B&B is only 0.5 percentage points. The relative frequency of “service” and “room” of hotel facilities in tourist attractions differed by 4.35 percentage points, while that of B&Bs differed by only 0.77 percentage points, and more than 70% of the tourists had a positive attitude towards the experience of accommodation facilities in tourist attractions. Lodging facilities in tourist attractions need to enrich the sequence of lodging products, improve the layout of service and reception facilities, create relevant themed B&Bs, and enhance the service quality of lodging facilities by combining modern technology to further promote the sustainable development of lodging facilities planning.

Site Selection for Girls Hostel in a University Campus by MCDM based Strategy

The area of interest based on girls’ hostel site selection is an important topic nowadays. The research directly impacts the well-being, safety, and academic success of female students who are taking the facilities for accommodation while pursuing their academic courses. An efficient hostel location not only supports the physical safety of students but also takes care of their psychological and emotional well-being by providing a suitable and helpful living atmosphere. Different valuable criteria and sub-criteria are considered for evaluating the most suitable site for a girls' hostel. The security and protection, proximity to academic buildings, accessibility, health and safety, and environmental factors as criteria with their associated sub-criteria are considered for this study. Two decision makers are given data sets in linguistic terms and further converted into crisp numbers. The weights of the criteria and sub-criteria are determined by a well-known multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique called the Entropy weighted method. Further, the most prioritized location for the girls' hostel on the university campus was evacuated using the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) based ranking MCDM method. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis was conducted to check the stability and flexibility of the results.

Factors Influencing Thai Tourists Satisfaction with SDG Adventure Destinations: Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

Purpose: 1) to investigate the adventure tourism information search by Thai tourists in Nakhon Nayok province 2) to examine the push motivation influences to adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok province and 3) to examine the pull motivation influences to adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok province. Theoretical reference: The study population consisted of Thai tourists traveling to Nakhon Nayok Province, with a sample size of 400, following the guidelines of Schumacker and Lomax (2010). Method: Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using path analysis with a mathematical software program. Results and Conclusion: The results indicated that Thai tourists searched information of the adventure tourism from online in high level (Facebook and Instagram), the push motivation of Thai tourists influencing travel in SDGs adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok was to learn something new and interesting, and the pull motivation influences to adventure tourism was good physical amenities: accommodation, transportation, and recreation facilities. Implications of research: The weight of direct effect, indirect effect and total effect of Thai tourists’information search, push factors and pull factors which influences travelling in SDGs adventure tourism were the attitude, satisfaction and expectation with a significance level of 0.01. respectively. Originality/value: Thai tourists want to visit SDGs adventure tourism in Nakhon Nayok Province not only the place ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages but also availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Pemenuhan Kebutuhan Pelayanan Kepada Jemaah oleh KBIHU dan Tour & Travel Haji dan Umroh

This article examines the efforts made by the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group (KBIHU) as well as tour and travel agents in meeting the service needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This study aims to identify the type of service provided, evaluate the quality of service, and measure the level of satisfaction of pilgrims with the services received. Data was collected through survey methods and interviews with congregations, as well as direct observation of the service process. The results of the study show that there are several important aspects in the service that are very concerned by the congregation, such as worship guidance, accommodation facilities, transportation, and health support. KBIHU and high-quality tour and travel agents are generally able to meet the expectations of pilgrims by providing comprehensive and professional services. However, there are also several obstacles and challenges faced in the service process, such as limited resources and ineffective coordination. This study suggests increasing training for service staff, improving facilities, and improving the coordination system to improve the quality of service to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

Hedonic Pricing Models in Rural Tourism: Analyzing Factors Influencing Accommodation Pricing in Romania Using Geographically Weighted Regression

This study investigates the factors influencing pricing in Romanian rural tourism using a hedonic pricing model through a hybrid LASSO-OLS regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR). By analyzing data from 5028 unique accommodation units across 1170 local administrative units, we identify some key pricing determinants, including accommodation size, capacity, facilities, and environmental attributes. The results reveal that larger accommodations and those with higher guest capacities command higher prices. Luxurious facilities, such as massage services, pools, and fireplaces, significantly increase pricing, although the impact of such features varies by region, as do accommodation type and natural scenery, with agritouristic boarding houses and proximity to natural attractions like water bodies and forests being more valued in certain regions. These factors can aid rural entrepreneurs in optimizing pricing to enhance competitiveness and profitability.

Unpacking Challenges within South African Institutions of Higher Learning in Addressing Student Grievances: A Literature Review

The persistent episodes of violence have been a thorn in the flesh of many South African institutions of higher learning. This predicament has tarnished the reputation of these institutions and compromised the overall quality of education provided. Employing a qualitative narrative literature review as the methodology and the theory of anomie, this paper examines and delineates the challenges confronted by higher learning institutions in addressing student grievances. The findings reveal many factors motivating student grievances and subsequent campus protests. These factors encompass administrative and managerial deficiencies in handling student grievances, inadequacies in managing student financial challenges, distorted perceptions among students regarding their rights and responsibilities, and substandard student accommodation and learning facilities. The discourse presented herein aspires to influence a transformation in the operational frameworks of higher learning institutions. The researchers envisage that their insights will diminish instances of violence and catalyse policy shifts to mitigate student exclusion.

The impact of anti-COVID measures on accommodation performance.

This article analyses mass accommodation facilities to examine the development of Czech tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021. The questionnaire survey was carried out in March 2021 in mass accommodation facilities. 131 responses were received from hotels and guesthouses throughout Czechia, which represents a return rate of 20%. Data were processed using Pearson's chi-square test to determine the effect of changes in facility type and category, quality, location, and primary focus before the outbreak of the pandemic. A statistical analysis of data on overnight stays was also used with data from the public database of the Czech Statistical Office. The study confirmed the increasing importance of domestic tourism and the greater sensitivity of destinations dependent on foreign tourists. Future strategies should be associated with destination rather than corporate management. The challenges are linked to the strengthening of environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism. To what extent the post-covid situation will return to the original model and to what extent it will at least partially reflect the changes that took place during the crisis period is a question for future research. Moving from operational to strategic measures would be advisable.

Analysis of current state and development trends of the tourism sector in the regions of the North Caucasus, Russia

The territory of the south of Russia, within which the North Caucasus Federal District is located, is a most suitable zone for the development of tourism and recreation due to its natural, climatic and geographical components. In this regard, identifying the potential of the tourism sector in the North Caucasian Federal District as one of the promising areas is an urgent task under modern geopolitical conditions.To analyze the level of saturation of the tourist infrastructure of accommodation and the demand for its services in the North Caucasus Federal District, the following indices were calculated: the number of places for tourist accommodation per 1000 permanent residents; number of tourists staying in accommodation facilities per 1 sq. km of territory; number of tourists staying in accommodation facilities per 1000 permanent residents; number of places to accommodate tourists per 1 sq. km. territories.Based on the analysis of the state and development of the tourism sector, as well as the calculated values of tourism infrastructure indices, the main trends in the development of the tourism sector and the problems of its functioning have been identified, which will make it possible to more effectively manage the existing unique tourist, recreational and ethnocultural potential of the territory.The positive dynamics of the main indicators in recent years indicates an increase in the attractiveness and competitiveness of the North Caucasian Federal District as a tourist destination. The analysis of statistical data allows us to draw conclusions about the reorientation of tourist flows from the central regions of Russia to the regions of the North Caucasus.

ANALISIS TINGKAT KESEJAHTERAAN RUMAH TANGGA NELAYAN

The study was conducted on a fisherman's household in Weru Village, Paciran district of Lamongan. The objective of the study was to find out the relationship between income, consumption, housing conditions, accommodation facilities, family members' health, access to health services, children's access to education, and access to transport facilities to the well-being of fishermen's households, both simultaneously and partially. The method used in this research uses associative descriptive methods. The study used 91 as a sample of the study using double linear regression analysis. Hypothesis testing in this study uses test-F and test-t statistics. The statistical analytics process uses the SPSS for Windows 25 program. According to the results of the study, the influence of income, consumption, housing conditions, accommodation facilities, the health of family members, access to health services, children's education, and access to transport facilities on the well-being of fishermen's households, carried out with a determination coefficient analysis, has an impact of 0.998 or 99.8%, i.e. income, consumer, conditions of housing, accommodations, family members' health, health of health services access, child education access, and transport facility access have an effect of 99.8% on fisherman's welfare and the remaining 0.2% is influenced by other factors not studied by the author.

An Emerging New Tourism Destination: Geographic Resources and Tourism Potential of the Province of Masbate (Republic of the Philippines)

The Masbate Province surrounded by the Sibuyan Sea, Visayan Sea and Samar Sea, is located in the central part of the Philippine archipelago and includes 3 large islands (Masbate, Ticao and Burias) and many smaller islands. All the islands within the borders of Masbate Province are just one part of the Luzon Islands Group in terms of physical geography; also in terms of political geography and administrative geography, they are located within the “Bicol Administrative Region”. In terms of administrative structure, there are 20 districts, 1 city (Masbate City) and 550 Barangays in the Masbate Province. Even though the Masbate Province has rich natural resources and mines, great agricultural and fishing potential, it has so far failed to achieve the desired success in international tourism. In this study, Masbate, Ticao and Burias, which are the largest islands of the Masbate province, are investigated and analyzed separately and both their geographical features, tourism potential and tourism attractiveness of these islands are accounted for. In this article, the main accommodation facilities, major nature reserves, islands and beaches within the borders of Masbate Province, as well as natural and cultural tourism attractions are examined; additionally, the tourism advantages and disadvantages of Masbate Province are addressed. The main purpose of the study is to introduce the tourism resources, cultural riches and natural beauties of the Masbate Province, which actually is not very popular among the international tourists, to the readers, both to popularize the name of the Masbate Province to the global tourism markets and offer new holiday options for the inquisitive tourists.

Airbnb and Mountain Tourism Destinations: Evidence from an Inner Area in the Italian Alps

Starting from this decade, peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation has witnessed a valuable growth that has interested both urban and rural environments. With reference to the Italian context, the Airbnb platform represents the main platform used by tourists, contributing to reshaping tourism offerings and to the “drive” of the image of tourism destinations. The aim of this study is to present insight into the Airbnb phenomenon in a marginal mountain destination in the Italian Alps, for a better understanding of how the environmental dimension is considered by both guests and hosts. In order to reach this goal, 727 guests’ reviews in 35 Airbnb accommodation facilities of the municipalities of Soana Valley were analyzed through a qualitative sentiment analysis performed with NVivo 14 software. The evidence was compared with the hosts’ viewpoint, thanks to semi-structured interviews with three local actors. Preliminary considerations of the guests’ reviews reported positive comments (79.5%) for both the accommodation per sé (perfect, excellent, beautiful, welcoming, and clean) and the mountainous area as well, particularly appreciated for its natural characteristics. These were confirmed by the hosts’ interviews, who underlined how nature represented one of the main guests’ highlighted aspects. Moreover, visitors’ needs and expectations have increased over the years, forcing the need to improve the quality of offerings. This contribution concludes with a reflection on the opportunities that second home tourism can represent for Italian inner mountainous areas.

A tourist facility with a ban on children playing: The principle of non-discrimination and the statement of the Bulgarian court

Recently, both in Bulgaria and abroad, it is increasingly common to find accommodation, restaurants and entertainment facilities that advertise and offer a wide range of services. However, these are not intended for general consumers but only those who have reached maturity (excluding minors and the under-aged). According to press publications hotels and restaurants that pre-select their guests based on their age are mainly concentrated on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and in the mountains or they specialize in spa and balneo procedures. It turns out that consumers find it easier to stay with a pet, albeit at an extra cost, than go on vacation with their teenage children. Such practices adopted by representatives of the tourism industry raise some questions of a moral, ethical and legal nature. The current article traces the development of a specific administrative and judicial proceeding initiated to establish the presence of discrimination against consumers in a tourist facility – a restaurant. An overview of the claims and arguments of the claimant is made as well as an analysis of the reasons and considerations given by the competent administrative and judicial authorities. The author’s opinion on the issue is expressed.

Economic Impact and Adaptive Responses in the Global Hotel Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenge of unprecedented scale for various industries, and the hotel industry has not escaped the waves of economic uncertainty. Economic indicators in the hotel industry, which once reflected growth and prosperity, abruptly turned into indicators of crisis and the need for adaptation. The main aim of the presented article is the evaluation, categorization, and comparison of hotel-type accommodation facilities in selected countries based on their economic indicators in the pandemic period. Comparison and categorization of countries will be carried out using a multivariate statistical method – cluster analysis. All investigated indicators were obtained by the method of sociological inquiry in the form of a questionnaire. The application of cluster analysis identified the economic importance and potential in the countries in question using the investigated economic indicators in the hotel industry. The results showed a significant economic difference between the countries. The analysis divided the requested countries into five clusters – categories from the lowest (Turkey) to the highest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic situation in the hotel industry (Slovak Republic). Since the prevention of crises in the hotel industry is a key aspect that can minimize negative consequences and ensure the sustainability of operations, at the end of the presented article we have outlined the measures that accommodation establishments should apply in their normal practice.

Re-design of homestay in Takengon city with contemporary Gayo concept

Abstract As tourism develops in the city of Takengon, it is considered profitable for lodging business owners, from star-rated accommodation to jasmine classes emerging in the city of Takengon, making competition very tight. One type of accommodation business that is currently competitive and has great potential to grow rapidly is homestay. With the existing land, the arrangement of the homestay building is still not optimal, where the activities and circulation of the owner still mingle with guests. Likewise, the standard of accommodation facilities still needs to be added to maximize services. Generally, homestays are located in residential areas or tourist villages because of their function as a medium of introduction to the surrounding culture. Homestay re-design aims to redesign the homestay building according to its function with a picture of the life of the gayo people living in it, it can also strengthen the quality of homestay in the future as a competitor in the lodging business competition. The contemporary architectural style was chosen due to its characteristics of being contemporary, flexible and related to the principles of gayo architecture. The research method was carried out with literature studies and field surveys. The field survey included observations, interviews and direct observations of the residents of the houses in the housing estate. Then designed new facilities for the homestay such as, special sleeping room, fire kitchen, restaurant, front office, service area, as well as site arrangement in the form of cotage and open space/ebalen. The design is carried out with the concept of applying the rules of gayo contemporary architecture, namely the application of the concept of natural harmony to the zoning of the site and the application of the concept of filigree in the figure of the building appearance.

Cooperative Societies as a Sustainable Legislative Aspect of the Establishment of a Dispersed Hotel

Abstract Dispersed hotels, characterized by their decentralized accommodation facilities integrated into existing structures of historical or cultural significance, have emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional centralized hotels. This study explores the role of cooperative societies as a legislative and organizational framework for establishing and managing dispersed hotels. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes case studies from Europe where cooperative models have successfully facilitated the integration of dispersed hotels into local communities, ensuring economic and cultural sustainability in Slovenia. The findings indicate that cooperative societies enable effective resource sharing, community engagement, and equitable distribution of economic benefits, which are essential for the long-term sustainability of dispersed hotels. Legislative support in the form of favorable policies and financial incentives has been identified as critical in fostering these cooperative initiatives. The study suggests that cooperative societies not only enhance the operational sustainability of dispersed hotels but also contribute to the conservation of cultural heritage and the stimulation of local economies. The results advocate for policymakers to consider cooperative models in tourism development strategies, emphasizing their potential to transform local communities and promote sustainable tourism practices.

Роль природоохранного паспорта в оценке уровня экологизации хозяйственной деятельности

The article presents the theoretical foundations, methodological peculiarities and practical experience of organizing ecological certification in Russia. It examines the key documents regulating its implementation and draws on legislative and normative-legal documents, scientific publications, and information and statistical data from various official regional sources. Despite being voluntary in the Russian legal framework, ecological certification is mandatory for certain organizations. For instance, the Rules for the Organization of Tourism and Recreation in the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory prescribe that accommodation facilities within it must provide environmental passports to relevant authorities. A provisional structure of such a document is provided. It is revealed that it can be utilized to assess the level of greening of economic activities of tourist enterprises, including those located in territories with special regimes of nature management. Moving forward, efforts to enhance the implementation of environmental passportization should focus on strengthening regulatory mechanisms, enhancing institutional capacity, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration. Through concerted action, Russia can advance its environmental agenda and contribute to global efforts to achieve sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Роль цифровизации в развитии экономико-туристического пространства региона: опыт Мурманской области

Introduction. The Murmansk region is the pearl of Arctic tourism, and its tourist and recreational potential is considered in the work. Theoretical analysis. During the theoretical analysis, it was found that a tourist multiplier operates in the economy of the Murmansk region, contributing to the development of the regional tourism industry. At the same time, the acceleration effect in the industry is observed due to the introduction of digital technologies. Empirical analysis. The analysis of the tourism industry economic indicators the Murmansk region gave mixed results. However, the dynamics of many indicators is positive, although it cannot be unequivocally stated that the tourism industry is the flagship industry of the region. At the same time, there is an active application of digitalization achievements in the region, although insufficient. Regional tourist industry facilities use virtual excursions as promotion tools. However, other digitalization mechanisms will also contribute to the popularization of the Murmansk region. In particular, they include conducting excursions through live broadcasts for people with disabilities, producing games with the landscapes of the Kola Peninsula, creating an application with a built-in navigation function along a pre-laid route, and, in the future, building personal routes by amateur tourists independently using this application. Results. Proposals for the introduction of digital technologies into the activities of accommodation facilities, the use of games with locations in the region, and the increase in excursion streams can lead to an acceleration of the cartoon effect in the Murmansk region and increase the tourist flow to the region.