ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRACTICES IN SELECTED HOTELS AT TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Sustainability is a global demand in all phases of human daily needs. These very important activities including hotel facilities and services require a sustainable approach to achieve a friendly and sustainable environment. This study assessed the sustainable green practices in hotels with a view of increasing the awareness of hotel managers and visitors on green practices for sustainable hotel facilities and tourism development. Data for this study were collected using structured questionnaires administered using purposive sampling. Twenty hotels were selected for this study and each hotel manager was administered a questionnaire each. At each hotel also, 10 guests were randomly selected for the study hence a total of 220 for 20 selected hotels (20 questionnaires for manager and 200 questionnaires guests) were administered in this study. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Identifying the existing green features and practice in the selected hotels shows that all the hotels were using generators as energy sources and bore-holes for water sources. Restaurant in the hotel selected releases solid and liquid waste (biodegradable and nonbiodegradable) and 75% of the selected hotels had natural fixtures/eco-features (trees, rocks, wet-land, and other natural habitat for wildlife) and all the hotels has 100% portion of concrete flooring type. Perceived factors militating against the establishment and adoption of sustainable green practices in their hotels by hotel managers shows that; Installation cost of green facilities, deficient awareness, difficulties in regulation or policy and green certification of the hotel, training and retraining of the staff and guest on how to handle some green facilities in the hotel. The assessment of the guests awareness of sustainable green practices in the selected hotels showed that energy saving bulbs mean = (2.90) had the highest mean value followed by eco-friendly retails (e-commerce or transact) mean = (2.80), low flow viii water in the bathroom and toilet, reusable plastics, towel, cutleries, beddings mean= (2.70), local food/Indigenous food hotel kitchen mean = (2.30) and repair and refurbishing mean = (1.80). Guests' preferred green practices in the selected hotels revealed that energy saving bulbs mean= (2.90), eco friendly retailers mean = (2.80), carbon free environment mean= (1.10), low flow fixtures in the bathroom and toilet mean = (2.70) were preferred. The Chi-Square showed that there is a significant relationship between preference for green practices and awareness of green practices at the hotels (p< 0.01) while, there is a significant relationship between preference for green practices and the respondents’ age (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.01), education level (p < 0.01). The study recommends that sustainable green practices should be integrated more into the hotel facilities and used as standard for hotel licensing. This is to ensure a sustainable environment and conservation of our natural resources.