Identifying Tourists Interested in Eco-Certified Accommodation Units from Brasov, Romania

Authors

  • Cristinel Petrisor CONSTANTIN Transilvania University of Brasov
  • Ana ISPAS Transilvania University of Brasov
  • Adina Nicoleta CANDREA Transilvania University of Brasov

Abstract

Ecolabels are key instruments for a sustainable tourism development and implementation of environmental certification of tourist accommodation facilities and services. The present paper aimes to analyze whether eco-certification is considered by tourists in the choice of accommodation in Romanian destinations. We have chosen as a case study the city of Brasov in order to evaluate if certification as a sustainability policy tool is needed for accommodation facilities. A survey was conducted among 940 tourists from the analyzed destination. Data collected in the survey was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and several statistical methods have been used: descriptive analysis, crosstabs, Cluster Analysis. The results of the research outline the necessity for Brasov’s accommodation managers to consider the eco-certification of their businesses. However, since some tourists remain unaware regarding the existence of tourism certification programs and far fewer understand their meaning, they would have to consider educating tourists with respect to the utility and scope of tourism ecolabels alongside efforts towards creating or adopting tourism ecolabeling programs.

Author Biographies

Cristinel Petrisor CONSTANTIN, Transilvania University of Brasov

Marketing, Tourism-Services and International Business Deoartment

Ana ISPAS, Transilvania University of Brasov

Marketing, Tourism-Services and International Business Deoartment

Adina Nicoleta CANDREA, Transilvania University of Brasov

Marketing, Tourism-Services and International Business Deoartment

References

Association of Ecotourism in Romania (2012). AER website. Retrived from http://www.eco-romania.ro/.

Andereck, K.L. (2009). Tourists’ perceptions of environmentally responsible innovations at tourism businesses. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 17, 489-499.

Ayuso, S. (2006). Adoption of voluntary environmental tools for sustainable tourism: analysing the experience of Spanish hotels. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 13, 207-720.

Bastic, M. & Gojcic, S. (2012). Measurement scale for eco-component of hotel service quality. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31(3), 1012-1020.

Bohdanowicz, P. (2005). European hoteliers’ environmental attitudes. Cornell Hotel and Restaurants Administration Quarterly, 46(2), 188–204.

Bohdanowicz, P., Simanic, B. & Martinac, I. (2005). Sustainable hotels – environmental reporting according to Green Globe 21. The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference. Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005, 1642-1649.

Burgin, S. & Hardiman, N. (2010). Eco-accreditation: win-win for the environment and small business? International journal of business studies – special edition, 18(1), 23-38.

Chafe, Z. (2005). Consumer Demand and Operator Support for Socially and Environmentally Responsible Tourism Key Findings. Wikieducatororg CESD/TIES, 104, 1-15.

Chan, E.S.W. (2008). Barriers to EMS in the hotel industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 27, 187–196.

Choi, H.C. & Sirakaya, E. (2005). Measuring residents’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism: Development of sustainable tourism attitude scale. Journal of Travel Research, 43(4), 380-394.

Delmas, M. & Lessem, N. (2011). Eco-premium or eco-penalty? Eco-labels, quality and knowledge in the organic wine market. Retrived from http://www.erb.umich.edu/News-and-Events/news-events-docs/11-12/eco-labels2011/final-presentation-PDFs/Delmas-Lessem.pdf

Delmas, M. & Lessem, N. (2012). Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information. Retrived from http://www.environment.ucla.edu/media_IOE/files/Delmas-Lessem-01-2012-jh-kwh.pdf

El Dief, M. & Font, X. (2010). The determinants of hotels’ marketing managers’ green marketing behaviour. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18, 157-174.

ECEAT & ECOTRANS (2004). Tourism eco-labelling in Europe - moving the market towards sustainability: The VISIT Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.ecotrans.org/visit/docs/pdf/visit_en.pdf.

European Commision (2012a). EC website. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm.

European Commision (2012b). Flash Eurobarometer 334 – Attitudes of Europeans towards tourism. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_334_en.pdf.

Font, X. & Buckley, R. (2001). Tourism Ecolabelling: Certification and Promotion of Sustainable Management. Wallingford: CAB.

Font, X. (2002). Environmental certification in tourism and hospitality: progress, process and prospects. Tourism Management, 23(3), 197–205.

Font, X., Sanabria, R. & Skinner, E. (2003). Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism Certification: Raising Standards and Benefits. Journal of Ecotourism, 2, 213–218.

Font, X. & Harris, C. (2004). Rethinking standards from green to sustainable. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(4), 986–1007.

Green Hotels Association (2011). Why should hotels be green? Retrieved from http://greenhotels.com/index.php.

Gulbrandsen, L.H. (2006). Creating markets for eco-labelling: are consumers insignificant? International Journal of Consumer Studies, 30(5), 477–489.

Hall, D. (2011). Tourism development in contemporary Central and Eastern Europe: Challenges for the industry and key issues for researchers. Human Geographies - Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography, 5(2), 5-12.

Han, H., Hsu, L.T. & Lee, J.S. (2009). Empirical investigation of the roles of attitudes toward green behaviors, overall image, gender, and age in hotel customers‘ eco-friendly decision-making process. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28, 519-528.

Han, H., Hsu, L.T., Lee, J.S. & Sheu, C. (2011). Are lodging customers ready to go green? An examination of attitudes, demographics, and eco-friendly intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30, 345-355.

Hemmelskamp, J. & Brockmann, K. (1997). Environmental labels - The German ‘Blue Angel’. Futures, 29, 67–76.

Hoek, J., Gendall, P. & Esselmont, D. (1996). Market segmentation: a search for the Holy Grail? Journal of Marketing Practice, 2(1), 1355–2538 In: G. Prayag, Paradise for Who? Segmenting Visitors’ Satisfaction with Cognitive Image and Predicting Behavioural Loyalty. International Journal of Tourism Research, Published online in Wiley Online Library, 2011.

Honey, M. & Rome, A. (2001). Protecting Paradise: Certification Programs for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism. Washington D.C.: Institute for Policy Studies.

House, M.A. & Herring, M. (1995). Aesthetic pollution public perception survey. Report to Water Research Center. Middlesex: Flood Hazard Research Center, Middlesex University.

International Ecotourism Society (2005). Consumer demand and operator support for socially and environmentally responsible tourism. Retrieved from

http://www.responsibletravel.org/resources/documents/reports/Consumer_Demand_April_2005.pdf.

Jhawar, A., Kohli, G., Li, J., Modiri, N., Mota, V., Nagy, R., Poon, H. & Shum, C. (2012). Eco-Certification Programs for Hotels in California: Determining Consumer Preferences for Green Hotels. Undergraduate Program of Institute of the Environment and Sustainability University of California – Los Angeles In Conjunction with Walt Disney Imagineering Advised by Professor Magali Delmas Environmental Science Senior Practicum Spring 2012.

Kane, K., Chiru, C. & Ciuchete, S.G. (2012). Exploring the eco-attitudes and buying behaviour of Facebook users. Amfiteatru Economic, 16(31), 157-171.

Kettunen, J. (2012). Business tourists’ opinions of Radisson Blu Royal Hotel VAASA as business hotel. Retrieved from

http://publications.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/46115/Kettunen_Jenni.pdf?sequence=1

Mihalic, T. (2000). Environmental management of a tourist destination: A factor of tourism competitiveness. Tourism Management, 21, 65–78.

Miller, G.A. (2003). Consumerism in sustainable tourism: a survey of UK consumers. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 11,17-39.

Morgan, R. (1999). A novel, user-based rating system for tourism beaches. Tourism Management, 20, 393–410.

Nord, T. (2006). Corporate Social Responsibility in the Hotel Industry - A Cross Cultural Perspective. Master’s Thesis: Stockholm University.

Rainforest Alliance (2003). Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council: raising the standards and benefits of sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification. New York: Rainforest Alliance.

Ryglova, K. (2007). Eco-certification as a tool of sustainable tourism. Agricultural Economics, 53(3), 138–143.

Sasidharan, V., Sirakaya E. & Kerstetter, D. (2002). Developing countries and tourism ecolabels. Tourism Management, 23, 161–174.

The Gallup Organisation (2009). Europeans’ attitudes towards the issue of sustainable consumption and production. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_256_en.pdf.

United Nations Environment Programme (1998). Ecolabels in the tourism industry. France: United Nations Publication, UNEP, Industry and Environment.

Uriely, N., Reichel, A. & Shani, A. (2007). Ecological orientation of tourists: An empirical investigation. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7, 161-175.

VISIT (2012). VISIT website, Retrieved from http://www.yourvisit.info.

Wearing, S., Cynn, S., Ponting, J. & McDonald, M. (2002). Converting environmental concern into ecotourism purchases: a qualitative evaluation of international backpackers in Australia. Journal of Ecotourism, 1, 133-148.

Weaver, D.B. (2001). Ecotourism as mass tourism: Contradiction or reality? Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Quarterly, 42, 104-112.

World Tourism Organization (2002). Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism. Madrid: WTO.

Downloads

Published

2014-02-05

How to Cite

CONSTANTIN, C. P., ISPAS, A., & CANDREA, A. N. (2014). Identifying Tourists Interested in Eco-Certified Accommodation Units from Brasov, Romania. Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, 1(3), 521–542. Retrieved from https://www.managementdynamics.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/27

Issue

Section

Articles