Socioeconomic Profile of Tourists with a Greater Circular Attitude and Behaviour in Hotels of a Sun and Beach Destination

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 15;17(24):9392. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249392.

Abstract

This work aims to analyse the attitude towards circular economy (CE) and the environmental behaviour and circular practices among tourists of a well-known mature sun and beach destination. The study was conducted on a sample of tourists who visited Gran Canaria and stayed at a hotel establishment. Findings show that: (a) Older tourists have a higher pro-environmental or circular attitude in hotel establishments than younger ones; (b) most tourists are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly or green hotels and this is related to socio-demographic variables; (c) the majority of tourists believe that it is important for the hotel to have an energy-saving policy; (d) tourists' attitude towards circular practices varies according to socio-economic profile; (e) the most common sustainable hotel practices carried out by tourists are the use of recycling bins and reusable towel and linen schemes; (f) women report a higher circular behaviour than men; and (g) 86.5% of tourists carry out the same CE practices on holidays as in their place of residence. Study findings could be useful to design the transition from a linear model to a circular model in the hotel industry of a destination as it identifies the areas that the industry must promote to reach this transition.

Keywords: circular economy; destination; hotel industry; sustainability; tourist attitude; tourist behaviour.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude
  • Female
  • Food*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Refuse Disposal*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spain