The Moderating Role of Generation on Residents’ Support for P2P Vacation Accommodations: Millennials versus Older Generations

Abstract

Massive-scale peer-to-peer vacation accommodation has become one of the most relevant recent trends in the tourism industry. The phenomenon coincides in time with the emergence of the millennial generation alleged to influence a distinctive behavior. Grounded in the Social Exchange Theory, the study presents a comparative analysis of millennial residents’ and previous generations’ support for P2P vacation accommodations. The article explores differences in support for the new activity, in the perception of its impacts, and on how the residents back their support. A quantitative survey was conducted with a sample of 1,285 residents from Tenerife (Spain), a major international tourist destination with a large number of P2P vacation accommodations. Results reveal that millennial residents display more support for P2P vacation accommodations. However, it is not based on structural differences in how they build their support, rather on a greater perception of positive economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts than previous generations. Relevant tourism destination and DMO implications are derived.