Tourist Accommodation Research Articles

The digital divide and the growth of the hospitality industry: The case of Italian inner areas

AbstractWe investigate the role of internet access in spurring tourism supply, a strategic driver of economic development, especially in the most ‘peripheral’ areas, characterized by a lack of technological infrastructure and other barriers that limit internet access and business opportunities. In a difference‐in‐differences setting, we exploit the recent Italian strategy for ultra‐broadband policy—aimed at boosting the diffusion of ultra‐broadband in Italy since 2015—as an exogenous source of variation in internet access to estimate the effect on tourism supply. In doing so, we employ detailed data on broadband coverage and tourist accommodation at the municipality level from 2012 to 2019. Our results show that the ultra‐broadband availability increased the tourism supply in four‐star hotels and bed and breakfasts, suggesting that policy interventions aimed at reducing the digital divide between centers and peripheries can boost local economic development and help the process of de‐peripheralization of marginal areas.

RESEARCH ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF AIRBNB ACCOMMODATION IN MAJOR EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS

The Airbnb platform, one of the most popular platforms of its kind, is present worldwide, with a variety of accommodations, depending on the type of accommodation it offers (single room, whole apartment, etc.). In this article, we set out to analyse the spatial allocation of accommodation and the density of Airbnb listings in comparison with hotel establishments in Europe. For the spatial analysis of Airbnb accommodations we used data from the Inside Airbnb website and QGIS, an application used for geographic information systems (GIS) that supports visualization, editing, and analysis of geospatial data. In this way, we created a geospatial database that helped us better understand the dynamics of each location. After analysing the data we concluded that a consequence of the concentration of Airbnb accommodation is that life in these areas has become more expensive and more crowded for locals. Airbnb accommodation has caused inconvenience not only to hotel owners but also to locals. In addition, Airbnb is having a strong impact on the rental market by increasing rental prices. Another trend that can be seen from the distribution of Airbnb accommodation is that in cities with a seafront location, accommodation is located close to beaches and most accommodation is of the entire home/apartment type. Differences in the frequency of use and prices of listings highlight the geographical inequality in the benefits and impact of Airbnb’s activity. The Airbnb offer is not a uniform segment of tourist accommodation and its effects on destinations are important and should therefore be analysed in relation to the territorial context.

CONTENT VALIDITY OF AN INSTRUMENT TO ASSESS THE LOW CARBON APPROACH IN THE FRONT OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST ACCOMODATION USING I-CVI AND MEAN ANALYSIS

The front office (FO) department manages reservation, registration, room and rate assignment, guest services, room status, concierge and bell service. The department services are crucial in developing a tourist accommodation into a low-carbon accommodation such as hotel, resort and others. The purpose of this study is to discuss the content validity of instruments for low-carbon tourist accommodation indicators in the FO department of hotels. Based on the theoretical framework, there are 53 indicators frequently used in constructing low-carbon FO instruments. The study employed the Item Content Validity Indexes (I-CVI) analysis method and mean analysis to assess content validity. The method comprised item clarity, language appropriateness, and score scale using a five-point Likert scale to analyze expert evaluations of items using a questionnaire form. The instrument was assessed by a panel of six professionals in tourism, hospitality, and industry involved in low-carbon research. An instrument is accepted and has a good level of content validity when it exceeds the take-off value of ≥ 0.80. One item was excluded from the instrument as it did not reach the take-off value. The average mean results of each expert review on the items ranged from 3.41 to 5.00, suggesting that no questions required repetition. Overall, 17 items were refined by fitting the items to the FO department work scope. The findings revealed that the instrument was acceptable and relevant. It provides an original and useful indicator to measure the low-carbon approach in the FO department of hotels as to achieve the agenda of low carbon tourism.

빅데이터 기법을 활용한 외식관광이동패턴 연구

This study explored the movement patterns of tourists’ behavior concerning their food and beverage product choices, which differs from previous studies focusing on tourist movement patterns related to tourist products such as tourist attractions or accommodations. Navigation data of Jeju Island tourists visiting restaurants and cafes were analyzed through descriptive analysis, heatmap analysis, and social network analysis, which helped identify the movement patterns of tourists related to their food and beverage product choices. The heatmap analysis revealed that the movement patterns of tourists who visited restaurants were mostly centered around the urban areas of Jeju-si and Seogwipo-si, while the movement patterns of tourists who visited cafes were observed mostly in outlying areas such as along seasides or mountain areas. Additionally, the social network analysis revealed that the central nodes of restaurant networks were located near urban areas, while the central nodes of cafe networks were located further away from urban areas. This study can contribute to the theoretical understanding of differences in tourist movement patterns based on the purpose of the tourists’ visits. Furthermore, the study provides important insights for DMOs to efficiently operate and effectively develop and promote food and beverage products at destinations.

Potential rural tourism resources of the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan

The development of agro-tourism in the Mangistau region is taking place in the economic and socio-cultural areas, becoming important in preservation of natural and cultural heritage. Purpose – the authors consider the current state and prospects of rural tourism in the region. Methods – the information base of the study is statistical data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, information from domestic periodicals and international literature sources. Results – analysis of the available tourism resources in rural areas of the region based on the 4E model of Joseph Pine and James Gilmore was carried out, a comparison of the demographic situation in the countryside and in the city, seasonality of tourism activities was determined, the resources of tourism industry were analyzed, and best foreign practices were shown. Shortcomings of objects of tourist agribusiness were revealed in the region. The authors point out that this type of tourist services is still underdeveloped due to numerous problems that hinder their spread, among which are the backwardness of social and engineering infrastructure of rural areas, poor quality of the road network and transport links. All this reduces the attractiveness, does not contribute to the preservation of the ecology of rural areas, makes it difficult to arrange and create the necessary conditions for accommodation of tourists. Conclusions – agro-tourism helps to strengthen the economy of rural settlements, creates additional jobs, reduces the outflow of villagers to cities, increases their cultural and intellectual level, stimulates production of environmentally friendly food, income generation due to the development of local trade. Expanding the scope of its distribution requires a systematic approach, taking into account the specifics of the region.

Culture moderates the intention to purchase tourist accommodation online

The origin of the models of culture in electronic commerce is aimed at explaining the factors that influence the acceptance of this purchasing system, which is why they contemplate cultural differences of the consumer according to their nationality. Therefore, this research analyzed studies that have implicit models with moderating effects applied by Hofstede, (1980) cultural values. A questionnaire was administered to 500 buyers of tourist accommodation. Carrying out a descriptive study of the sociodemographic variables with the purpose of verifying the moderating effect of culture, a Multigroup Analysis -AMG-. Subsequently proceeding to contrast the structural model from the three antecedents raised theoretically -attitude, subjective norm and perceived control- which turned out to have a direct impact on the purchase intention.

코로나19에 따른 관광숙박업의 현황 및 대응전략

Purpose: This research aims to extend our understanding of the current status and response strategies of tourism accommodation industry in accordance with COVID-19. Method: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism accommodation industry, cases of response to COVID-19, and marketing strategies through literature. Results: It was confirmed that sales of hotels and condominiums overall declined as the number of tourists plummeted due to the social distancing policy of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: In order to respond to COVID-19, tourism accommodation industry attracted customers by providing various products and services with promotion and marketing strategies using keywords such as Untact, Wellness, Value, and Hygiene. Interdisciplinary Research Implications: This paper is a discussion of the current status and prospects of tourism accommodation industry in accordance with COVID-19, and interdisciplinary research with the field of physical education will be able to examine the impact of COVID-19 on non-face-to-face services in the sports field.

E-marketing in Accommodation Business Model Innovation at Airbnb in Bali

This study analyzes the implementation of e-marketing in the accommodation business model innovation on Airbnb sites in Bali. Data was collected through observation, in-depth interviews and literature study. Data analysis was descriptive qualitative using Porter's Five Force Models (PFFM). This model is used to analyze competitive forces in marketing accommodation in Bali through the airbnb website. The results showed that the implementation of e-marketing in the innovation of the tourism accommodation business model on the Airbnb site in Bali by applying the PFFM proved to be quite effective. The competitive advantages of the Airbnb site are: multiple listings, two booking process confirmation systems, smaller booking commissions, competitive prices, no disparity rates, ease of registration, and marketing unique accommodation titles. Implementation of Porter's model is used to increase accommodation unit revenue by accepting bookings on the Airbnb situs site.

The trinomial health, safety and happiness promote rural tourism

BackgroundHealth and safety protocols have become a requirement to promote rural tourism (PRT). From this perspective, this paper empirically analyses how the health and safety dimensions influence the happiness of hotel managers and rural tourists in the post-Covid 19 era.MethodsA theory-based structural equation model will be carried out of activation of norms, that measure variables: sanitary, socioeconomic, and safety. Precisely, we will measure how those three attributes affect the managers-guests’ health in rural areas and their search for happiness at the rural destination. Based on the above, a field of study has been 215 rural tourist accommodations in the Extremadura region (Spain) and a sample population of 443 guests. Data were organised through the SEM-PLS path modelling.ResultsThe results achieved statistically show the need to undertake a new model of healthier and safer tourism consumption that values the tourist resources of rural areas, especially nearby and sustainable destinations, based on the guiding principles of safety, health, and happiness.ConclusionsThe first conclusion is that promoting tourist destinations under safe and healthy conditions has become a priority objective in the tourism industry. The second conclusion that follows from the first is that the variables safety and health and the pursuit of happiness are essential factors in promoting tourist destinations for rural hotel managers and rural tourists. The third conclusion related to the first two is that the opportunity that this study provides to develop strategies of an innovative, sustainable, and creative nature based on the relationships of the new trinomial of health, safety and happiness, from the perspective of happiness management.

Returning to the gaybourhood: Expectations of resilience and recovery of Chueca (Madrid) after the COVID-19 pandemic

Chueca, in Madrid, is Spain’s most well-known gaybourhood, a significant space for both local and national LGBTQ individuals and activist movements, as well as for the Spanish and European LGBTQ tourist circuits. The COVID- 19 pandemic hit hard in a neighbourhood already heavily disputed among arguments of touristification and tourist accommodation, as tourist-oriented businesses began closing and other, more resident-oriented ones transformed themselves to survive the year 2020. Drawing from ethnographic research undertaken from 2019 to early 2021, this article analyses different experiences and expectations of recovery among local professionals, mostly business- owners from Chueca itself. The opposition between a return to business-as-usual and a revolution towards a more humane or sustainable tourism, on the one hand, and an already conflicted debate over the nature of the neighbourhood, on the other one, interacts with the wider situation of urban tourist destinations in Western Europe and with the practices of discourses unveiled in Chueca. The article argues for the pandemic’s role as a catalyst for pre-existing conflicts, as local and global processes intertwine.

The Chinese new middle class and their production of an ‘authentic’ rural landscape in China’s gentrified villages

Landscape change has long been a key characteristic of gentrification research. While much of this research has examined the intention of the middle class to consume authenticity and the consequent landscape changes in gentrified neighborhoods in the Global North, much less attention has been given to contexts in the developing world. This paper addresses this gap by discussing an empirical case of the rural landscape produced by Rural Tourism Makers (RTMs) – a group of new middle class– in China. This research is based on participant observation and twenty-three interviews with RTMs running Minsu guesthouses, a type of tourist accommodation involving the skilled renovation of existing village buildings. To illustrate the empirical nuances, the research draws insights from two perspectives on landscape, namely the symbolic landscape and the lived landscape, to show how RTMs have produced a new rural landscape of local and global characteristics and to examine the authenticity of these landscapes. In so doing, the research enriches our knowledge of gentrification in a non-Western context by analyzing a gentrified rural landscape in the Chinese context, produced by the emerging Chinese new middle class and their westernized consumption preferences. Meanwhile, the authenticity of this new rural landscape, which is based on RTMs’ expectations and imagination, strengthens the constructionist view of authenticity in gentrification studies.

COVID-resistant domestic short-term rentals in Europe

During the COVID-19 pandemic, platform-mediated short-term rentals are believed to have performed better than traditional tourism accommodation due to tourist preferences and the possibility of evading some sanitary regulations. The paper investigates this difference in 31 European countries by combining conventional hotel statistics with novel data on short-stay accommodation (SSA) gathered by Eurostat from four major platforms mediating in home rentals. The first hypothesis that short-term rental accommodation lost fewer tourists during the pandemic than hotels is supported if domestic tourism is concerned. The second hypothesis that the loss of tourists in short-term rental accommodation was less dependent on the stringency of restrictions than in hotels is only confirmed for domestic tourism in small, primarily outbound tourism-generating countries. The study results shed light on the pandemic-induced travel substitution, discussion on the regulation of short-term rentals, and the utility of Eurostat SSA statistics as a new research data source.

Adaptive reuse of vernacular built heritage: learnings from Alcino Cardoso House (1971–1991) by Álvaro Siza

The Alcino Cardoso House (first phase: 1971–1973; second phase: 1988–1991), located in northern Portugal, was one of the first interventions in pre-existing buildings undertaken by the Pritzker Prize-winner architect Álvaro Siza (1933) to receive national and international acclaim. The design consisted of the conservation of vernacular farm buildings and their transformation into a holiday home and tourist accommodation. This intervention echoes the concerns of the critical revision of modern architecture in the Portuguese context (the so-called ‘third way’ as coined by Fernando Távora) marked by an innovative reinterpretation of tradition: modern principles such as spatial fluidity, curtain wall glass façade, architectural promenade are introduced while respecting the pre-existence landscape and character by integrating vernacular design principles and construction techniques. This early Álvaro Siza intervention in a rural context has become a reference case-study for the School of Porto architects and provides us with lessons on contemporary reuse of built heritage.

Citizen actions in touristic neighbourhoods: Barcelona as a case study

ABSTRACT Touristification transforms the urban life of many tourist destination cities, leading to changes in the uses and values of city real estate, and generating a displacement of the most vulnerable sectors of the population. The objective of this research is the analysis of citizens’ strategies for facing this transformation process, considering that the associative and protest tradition in neighbourhoods can dampen (and this is our hypothesis) the intensity and effects of touristification. Therefore, this work examines the responses to the touristification processes of two Barcelona city neighbourhoods: Barceloneta and Hostafrancs. The results show that these areas resist and preserve the neighbourhood identity thanks to the drive and proactivity of its associative and cooperative fabric, both social and commercial, together with some political instruments proposed by the local government; albeit with different manifestations and results. The analysis of in-depth interviews, complemented by data on the number of tourist accommodation and the evolution of residential housing prices, constitute the empirical basis for carrying out this work.

Urbanization and solid waste production: prospects and challenges.

The increasing urban population and the restructuring of urban economies are the main aspects that determine urban development in the twenty-first century. Rapid urbanization is among the most significant anthropogenic factors that impact ecosystems and sustainability. Urbanization is a "double-edged sword." Even though it contributes to economic prosperity and social development, at the same time, it poses severe challenges to the natural environment and social system. The scientific community emphasizes the need to investigate the relationship between cities and the environment to comprehend their dynamic interactions related with problems such as climate change, consumption of natural resources, and life quality degradation. Population growth and urbanization are central considerations of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11, dealing with making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Moreover, the new circular economy model is receiving increasing attention globally as a solution to the current production and consumption model, which is based on constant growth and increasing resource input. The objective of this paper was to identify the major challenges occurred due to the rapid urbanization in a coastal city though a qualitative and quantitative waste compositional analysis. The ultimate goal is to propose the waste compositional analysis as a new indicator in the literature for determination of the degree of metabolism in an island region. According to the compositional analysis, the higher the population density in a region, the greater the volume of garbage produced and, consequently, the infrastructure necessary for waste management. Also, the increased seasonal tourist activity leads to an increase in the number of tourist accommodations and services. The results provided may also be applicable in other cities with similar characteristics related with tourism habits and the challenges they may face as a result of the waste production.

The impact of the tourism accommodation composition on housing prices: The case of Croatia

The adverse effects booming tourism activity and peer-to-peer platforms on housing markets are well known, while the influence of relative changes in tourism accommodation composition on housing prices are not well understood. To shed more light on the issue, this paper employs the data set on housing prices and its main tourism, economic, and demographic determinants, for cities and municipalities in a tourism-dependent country. The results suggest more intensive tourism demand and the conversion of housing stock into rentals boost housing prices. The increase in the share of short-term rentals depresses prices, while in destinations where hotels and campsites become more prevalent prices increase. These findings could be attributed to the pricing-in effects of an increased supply of tourism amenities developed as part of hotels’ and campsites‘ product mix that improve the quality of life, and lower quality of life experienced at destinations where rentals are becoming more prevalent.

A nexus between airbnb and inequalities in water use and access.

The emergence of digital tourism platforms through the sharing economy has brought into focus the potential opportunities it could promote and the inequalities it could exacerbate. Sharing economy platforms such as Airbnb are increasingly being utilised as alternative tourism accommodations. Though the sharing economy is promoted as economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable, its realised impacts are questioned. These realised impacts are of particular concern in water-scarce contexts such as Cape Town, South Africa as while water use may be virtually forgotten, its actual consumption remains predominately placed-based. This study explores these issues of inequality through the lens of the impact of Airbnb in Cape Town during one of the most severe droughts in over a century. Using a triangulation of mixed methods including web-based listing profile analysis, questionnaires, interviews and media analysis, Airbnb hosts were found to undertake the role of water ambassadors as concerned citizens and responsible tourism accommodation providers. However, spatial inequalities around outsourcing rental linen to marginalised areas of Cape Town and the power-laden training of domestic staff originating from outlying low-income areas, highlight the perpetuation of historically based understandings and considerations of water use.

Complexities of trust building through sociomaterial arrangements of peer-to-peer platforms

ABSTRACT Trading on peer-to-peer tourist accommodation platforms requires a sufficient level of trust between individual consumers and service providers. This is often achieved by using mutual consumer–provider evaluations, which are perceived as a trustworthy resource for information about upcoming stays. A variety of mechanisms and metrics are used to facilitate trust building on platforms; however, trust itself is being established by the platform’s users. This study investigates the case of Airbnb to show how arrangements of sociomaterial metrics and mechanisms are embedded in trust building. Findings from a virtual ethnographic study of the platform’s users show how trust building is performed through these arrangements. Based on organizational theories of trust and sociomateriality, the study suggests that establishing both attitudes of trust and distrust on peer-to-peer platforms are equally important. When the sociomaterial arrangement fails, trust may deteriorate outside of the platform organization’s control.

Analysis of Road Accessibility by Residents and Tourists to Public Hospitals in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

Accessibility to public hospital services is crucial for healthcare provision, particularly in regions characterized by high tourist presence, such as the Mediterranean islands. This study aims to assess the accessibility of public hospital services in Mallorca, considering access time, the geographic distribution of the resident population, and tourist accommodations. A GIS-based analysis using optimal routing algorithms and the Gini index was conducted to examine the equity in the distribution of regional and reference hospitals across four Health Sectors: Ponent, Migjorn, Tramuntana, and Llevant. The findings reveal that accessibility to regional hospitals is generally favorable, with average access times of 18, 16, 15, and 26 min, respectively, without surpassing 60 min. Accessibility to referral hospitals is comparatively lower, with 31,499 individuals located more than 1 h away. Moreover, 56% of the population is within 10 min from the referral hospital, and only 1.6% require more than 50 min to reach the hospital. Accessibility differs among Health Sectors, with Llevant experiencing the most significant impact. The hospital distribution in Mallorca is deemed to be adequate to serve residents, tourists, and the road network. Although limited in comparisons to other studies conducted in Spain, accessibility in Mallorca is fairly similar to Andalusia, Extremadura, and Catalonia. The study underscores the necessity for health infrastructure planning in order to account for the distribution of resident and tourist populations to ensure efficient and equitable services, particularly in Mediterranean island environments with a substantial tourist presence.

Spatiotemporal cluster analysis of reputable tourist accommodation in Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan

研究目的为了测试社交旅游网站 (STNS) 的用户生成内容 (UGC) 对在线声誉管理 (ORM) 的适用性, 本研究分析了知名酒店的空间聚类（基于 TripAdvisor 最佳价值指标) 和信誉良好的户外座位 (ODS) 餐厅(基于排名指标)。研究设计/方法/途径该研究使用数据挖掘技术从 TripAdvisor 获取 UGC。 基于（HDBSCAN）算法的分层基于密度的空间聚类方法用于鲁棒聚类分析。研究发现调查结果显示, 最具价值 (BV) 酒店和信誉良好的 ODS 餐厅最有可能位于人口和经济活动较为密集的城市旅游目的地的中心区及其周边地区。 BV 酒店的时空聚类分析形成了不同大小、密度和形状模式的聚类。研究原创性目前的文献扔缺乏专注于分析利用 UGC 的酒店和餐厅 (H&R) 空间聚类的研究。 因此, 本研究首次绘制并分析了知名酒店（TripAdvisor BV 指标）和餐厅（排名指标）的时空聚类模式。 因此, 本研究通过利用数据挖掘和 HDBSCAN 算法显示 H&Rs 聚类的模式变化, 为城市旅游研究做出了重要的方法论贡献。理论意义这项研究表明, 著名的 H&R 集中在历史悠久的市中心附近的地区。 这应该是对城市投资环境的应用研究的推动力。实践意义研究结果将为企业家和潜在投资者提供最具吸引力的旅游投资环境的理性指导。