ABSTRACT
The paper deals with hospitality services provided on the principles of sharing economy. One of the advantages of food sharing via online platforms is the authenticity and face-to-face contact with domestic providers and thus a real and deep gastronomic experience of visitors. Following, the visitors as consumers of these services, are more likely to recommend the tourism destination to their friends and relatives and to visit it repeatedly. However, the period of restrictions and lockdowns connected with the COVID-19 pandemic hindered most of these opportunities. The paper focuses on services provided via the biggest online platform EatWith and the existing and potential demand for these services in Slovakia. The aim of this paper is to analyze the demand for hospitality services provided on the principles of sharing economy on the platform EatWith and to reveal factors influencing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results emerging from primary research based on a questionnaire survey conducted in the first quarter of 2021 characterize typical consumers foodies. Positive and negative motivation factors are defined by 415 respondents. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
Currently, several new trends are emerging in the tourism demand. One of them is an independent travel, which is becoming more and more attractive among women. Women are increasingly emancipated, longing for rest, new discoveries and adventures. The subject of the research is solo female travelers, whose independent traveling represents a new trend in tourism. The paper contains an analysis of the requirements and preferences of women in terms of independent traveling, which is a basis for product creation for this segment. The study of demand represents a starting point for the creation of desired products, which can stimulate an increase in the independent participation of women in tourism in Slovakia. Making the offer of products in Slovakia more attractive can thus reduce the tendency to prefer visiting destinations abroad and help to support the tourism after Coronavirus crisis. The expected benefit of the paper is an increase in awareness of the segment and its requirements and needs when traveling in Slovakia and abroad, which may have a positive impact on participation in domestic and inbound tourism in Slovakia. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.