Accessible tourism and sustainability in Norway. (Case study Airbnb)
Master thesis
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3172220Utgivelsesdato
2024Metadata
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Sammendrag
This study examines how guests evaluate Airbnb accommodations based on specific accessibility features listed in the descriptions, as part of a move toward more inclusive and sustainable tourism in Norway. We are using a quantitative approach; additionally, we analyzed the data listed on the Airbnb website in the cities of Oslo, Bergen, and Tromsø through data scraping using SPSS (linear regression) techniques. The results show that providing accessibility features, such as a bathroom entrance wider than 32 inches and shower or bath chairs, can be significantly beneficial to guests and affect their ratings (p=0.007 and p=0.004). We consider these features to be especially important for elderly guests or those with mobility issues.
Our findings showed that guest ratings were not influenced by other features, such as stair-free entrances and available parking (scores that guests rated those locations in aggregate), indicating that visitors consider quality, service, and amenities as one of the criteria. They rank based on their experience, not the accessibility features listed on the website. Our results shed light on the complex interplay between accessibility features and guest experience and suggest that online listings, such as Airbnb, should employ these features more effectively. This research highlights the need for further investigation into accessibility in tourism products and suggests that more research is needed to understand how such features can influence guest perceptions and their decision to rate more.