Couchsurfing: a new form of sustainable tourism and an exploratory study of its motivations and its effect on satisfaction with the stay
International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research
ISSN: 1750-6182
Article publication date: 5 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to explore the motivations behind couchsurfers’ decision to go couchsurfing, and also to explore the influence of the couchsurfing experience on the satisfaction with the stay.
Design/methodology/approach
The exploratory research is based on a qualitative study using several methods: a netnography, two focus groups and the critical incident technique. Our exploratory research has enabled us to identify the main motivations behind the choice of the couchsurfing experience as a form of sustainable tourism.
Findings
The obtained results show six major motivations: Financial reasons, the cultural experience, the need for social interaction, professional reasons, the emotional entertainment and the social responsibility. Similarly, the influence of couchsurfing on the satisfaction with the stay manifests itself through the concept of love and family.
Practical implications
Managers would consider the social and friendly dimension of the touristic experience as a strategic decision. Once, this decision is taken, it is important to find out how the accommodation providers manage to deploy the values that couchsurfing promotes, which are sociability and the preoccupation with the environment and the society.
Originality/value
The research proved the importance of couchsurfing and its social aspect for the tourists. In fact, the obtained results show that the conviviality and the social relationship that is developed between couchsurfers and their hosts during their couchsurfing experience is what accounts for the tourist’s satisfaction.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
There is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Zgolli, S. and Zaiem, I. (2018), "Couchsurfing: a new form of sustainable tourism and an exploratory study of its motivations and its effect on satisfaction with the stay", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 130-142. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-02-2017-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited