Green Hotels on White Beaches: A Study into the Environmental Management of Hotels in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Abstract

The growing number of tourists and tourism related businesses is pushing the environment to its limits. As a response, hotels try to counteract environmental degradation by engaging in environmental management. However, it is still unclear what exactly drives hotel owners to engage in environmental management. The aim of this study is to determine how environmental management among hotels looks like, and by which factors this environmental management is influenced. For this purpose, the research question is as follows: What explains hotels’ engagement in environmental management in Puerto Viejo? In this context, environmental engagement could be explained by both hotels’ characteristics and owners’ motivations. The research question is answered by conducting surveys and interviews among Puerto Viejo’s hotel owners. Statistical data analysis indicated that hotels’ size, type, luxury and ownership did not affect hotels’ engagement in environmental management. Rather, engagement in environmental management is influenced by owners’ motivations. Therefore, environmental management can be mainly explained by personal beliefs and environmental attitude. This finding may relate to the eco-friendly mindset that prevails in Puerto Viejo.