Young traveller commercial accommodation selection : The role of the travel destination

Abstract

Apart from young travellers’ known preferences on travel patterns and behaviour, very little is known about the factors that influence their commercial accommodation (CA) purchase selections. This should not be the case as the segment is important to the future success and sustainability of the tourism industry, since young travellers tend to travel longer (Ian & Musa, 2008; Richards & Wilson, 2003), wider and farther than other segments (UNWTO, 1991), and hunger for more travel after returning from a trip (Richards & Wilson, 2003). This segment, aged 16-25 years, represents 20 percent of international travellers worldwide, and contributes to a significant income of US$136 billion (UNWTO, 2008) to travel operators.