Applying a Hedonic Model to the Analysis of Campsite Pricing in Spain

In Spain, camping accommodation accounted for 6.32% of total tourism accommodation and 8.2% of overnight stays in 2007. There were 1,152 registered campsites which provided lodging for almost 6.4 million users. Although these figures are higher than those of rural accommodation, few studies have analyzed the main attributes of this sector and their contribution to the development of Spanish tourism. The main aim of this work is to provide information on pricing based on the attributes of camping establishments. Given the heterogeneity of supply in this sector, a hedonic model is applied using data from different sources. The results show that the variables with the greatest influence on pricing are a coastal location, the quality of the facilities, having a quality distinction or being an ecological establishment. The effect of the latter variable reinforces the strategy initiated by the private sector and public administrations of investing in sustainable tourism.