Impacts of Peer-to-Peer Accommodation Use on Travel Patterns

TLDR

The rapid expansion of the sharing economy in travel has made it essential to examine its effects on travelers and tourism destinations. This study sought to determine how using peer‑to‑peer accommodation alters travelers’ behavior. Findings show that the social and economic appeal of peer‑to‑peer accommodation drives travelers to select more destinations, travel more frequently, stay longer, and participate in more activities, while lower costs enable visits to otherwise unaffordable options, providing implications for tourism planning.

Abstract

As a result of the phenomenal growth of the sharing economy in the travel industry, investigating its potential impacts on travelers and tourism destinations is of paramount importance. The goal of this study was to identify how the use of peer-to-peer accommodation leads to changes in travelers’ behavior. Based on two online surveys targeting travelers from the United States and Finland, it was identified that the social and economic appeals of peer-to-peer accommodation significantly affect expansion in destination selection, increase in travel frequency, length of stay, and range of activities participated in tourism destinations. Travelers’ desires for more meaningful social interactions with locals and unique experiences in authentic settings drive them to travel more often, stay longer, and participate in more activities. Also, the reduction in accommodation cost allows travelers to consider and select destinations, trips, and tourism activities that are otherwise cost-prohibitive. Implications for tourism planning and management are provided.