Ecotourists' Importance and Satisfaction Ratings of Accommodation-Related Amenities

ABSTRACT

Utilizing the importance-performance construct, this paper examines ecotourists' perceived importance of and satisfaction from, accommodation-related services and facilities in Nepal's Annapurna region, a mountain protected area. Analysis is based on 120 on-site questionnaire interviews conducted with trekkers during summer 2004, and complemented by in-depth qualitative discussions with some trekkers. Results show that trekkers tend to rate more highly the importance of natural attributes than comfort and hygiene-related attributes. Their satisfaction ratings of the natural attributes are high and exceed their importance ratings. While satisfaction ratings of hygiene-related attributes do not exceed trekkers' importance ratings, the mean values are nevertheless high indicating a reasonable level of satisfaction with these items. Some trekkers complain that lodging facilities in the Annapurna region are approaching closer to what one might expect in more commercialized destinations. Results also indicate that satisfaction does not correlate with trekkers' willingness to pay eco-fee. Implications for further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Ecotourist
• trekkers
• Annapurna conservation area
• environmental quality
• importance
• satisfaction