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Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 59 No. 2, 2011.

Original scientific paper

Environmental management in the Caribbean accommodations sector

Mechelle N. Best ; Department of Recreation & Tourism Management, California State University, USA
Brijesh Thapa orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-0163-5580 ; Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, Department of Tourism, Recreation & Sport Management, University of Florida, USA

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Abstract

This study focused on the implementation of environmental management (EM) in the Caribbean accommodations sector based on diffusion of innovations theory. More specifically, it examined the status of EM and the differences between adopters and non-adopters in terms of hotel characteristics, attitudes to the natural environment, familiarity, and the constraints to implementation. This study was conducted among general managers and owners of various types of accommodations within the 19 English-speaking countries of the Caribbean. Data were collected via an online user-administered questionnaire due to the wide geographic range. There were 197 completed questionnaires with at least one respondent from each country. Based on the results, four different levels of EM have been implemented and have diffused to two thirds of the sector throughout the region, though some countries exhibited a higher proportion of adopters. Generally, adopters were small properties 75 rooms or less. Adopters and non-adopters were compared to determine differences and there were very few variations between adopters and non-adopters. However, given that adoption of EM is still in the growth segment of the diffusion curve, the number of non-adopters may decrease over time as some of the non-adopters have indicated that they were relatively new properties and/or intended to implement EM in the future. Overall, the results have implications for hoteliers, local and regional hotel associations, and policy makers.

Keywords

environmental management; environmental attitudes; accommodations; sustainability; diffusion of innovations; Caribbean

Hrčak ID:

71006

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/71006

Publication date:

2.8.2011.

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