University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2011 Hotel Manager Attitudes Toward Environmental Sustainability Practices Empirical Findings From Hotels In Phuket, Thailand Sivika Saenyanupap University of Central Florida Part of the Hospitality Administration and Management Commons, and the Tourism and Travel Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Saenyanupap, Sivika, "Hotel Manager Attitudes Toward Environmental Sustainability Practices Empirical Findings From Hotels In Phuket, Thailand" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 1959. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/1959 HOTEL MANAGER ATTITUDES TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES: EMPIRICAL FINDINGS FROM HOTELS IN PHUKET, THAILAND by SIVIKA SAENYANUPAP B.A., Prince of Songkla University, 2005 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2011 © 2011 Sivika Saenyanupap ii ABSTRACT This study explored the attitudes of hotel managers in Phuket, Thailand, in an attempt to identify whether their attitudes influence their utilization of environmental sustainability practices. Due to the increasing number of visitors to Phuket, Thailand, the consumption of natural resources has increased in the region, causing serious environmental problems. A sustainable way forward is needed for the tourism industry in the region in order to maintain quality of service while reducing environmental damage. The data analyzed in this study came from self-administered questionnaires that surveyed hotel managers in Phuket, Thailand, with a sample of 243 respondents. Research results revealed three dimensions of hotel manager attitude toward environmental sustainability practices, including operational management, social obligation, and sustainability strategy and policy. Furthermore, three constraints on the implementation of environmental management practices were identified: lack of support, perceived difficulty, and lack of demand. The attitudes of hotel managers regarding specific factors and barriers are also presented in this study. The results of this study show that hotel managers overall possess positive attitudes toward environmental sustainability practices. Finally, the findings reveal that hotel managers’ attitudes toward sustainability practices depend on their social demographics, the type of hotel they operate, their degree of ownership of the hotel, whether or not their hotel was affected by the 2004 tsunami, and the year their hotel was built. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary for hotel managers to understand the importance of environmental sustainability practices because this understanding can help motivate them in implementing sustainability practices in their hotels. Furthermore, it can guide hotel managers when deciding which environmental policies are suitable for their iii hotels. Lastly, the study demonstrated that in order for hotels to become more sustainable, support is needed from government or hotel associations to provide education and training for the hotel managers. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe a debt of gratitude to the members of my thesis committee. Without their guidance, support, and encouragement, my research would not have been completed. Thank you to Dr. Po-Ju Chen, who provided me with information about the background of this thesis project and also took me under her wing and taught me how to produce good research; to Dr Fevzi Okumus, who provided me with an example of a good academic paper that inspired my own research; and to Dr Wilfried Iskat, who encouraged me in my writing and pointed me toward information relevant to my project. I would also like to thank my friends Danucha and Rapheeporn, who always stand by me. Thank you to Jaylyn and Amanda, who helped me improve my research writing. A special thank you to Xu Li, who taught me and continually provided me with more information to improve my research. Thank you to the UCF and Rosen College staff, especially Kathy King, Daren Caine, and Ayana Lopez, for helping me register and fill out the necessary supporting documentation. Thank you, UCF Writing Center and the graduate tutor, for helping me proofread my papers and making suggestions that contributed to my research. Lastly, I would like to express my deep appreciation for my whole family. I am indebted to those who pray for me, and especially my mom, who inspired me to write this thesis. Without her encouragement, I would not have completed it. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 Problem statement .................................................................................................................. 3 Research goals and objectives ................................................................................................ 5 Definition of terms ................................................................................................................. 6 Study parameter and limitations ............................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 7 Background of sustainability .................................................................................................. 7 The concept of sustainability .............................................................................................. 7 The concept of environmental sustainability .................................................................... 10 Benefits of environmental sustainability practices in hotels ............................................ 11 Barriers to deploying environmental sustainability practices in hotels ............................ 11 Environmental sustainability in hotel operations ............................................................. 13 Environmental performance practices in hotels ................................................................... 14 Energy efficiency .............................................................................................................. 14 Water conservation ........................................................................................................... 15 Waste generation .............................................................................................................. 16 Clean air ............................................................................................................................ 17 Environmental attitude ......................................................................................................... 18 Hospitality managers and environmental management ....................................................... 20 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 21 CHAPTER 3: THE STUDY LOCATION - PHUKET ............................................................ 22 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 22 Tourism in Phuket, Thailand ................................................................................................ 22 Tourism and sustainability ................................................................................................... 25 Green Leaf Foundation ..................................................................................................... 25 Green Leaf Program ......................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 28 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 29 Research design .................................................................................................................... 29 vi Survey instrument ................................................................................................................ 29 Explanation of questionnaire sections .................................................................................. 30 Sample .................................................................................................................................. 31 Data collection procedure ..................................................................................................... 31 Data analysis procedures ...................................................................................................... 32 Exploratory factor analysis ..............................................................................................