Quality, Key Tool in Tourist Destinations. Implementation in Rural Accommodation

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze if one of the main components of rural tourism destinations, certified rural accommodation establishments in Spain, have appropriate levels of quality implementation to boost the birth and development of competitive rural tourism destinations at national and international level with other destinations. The empirical study was conducted in 221 rural accommodation establishments certified with a national quality standard, specific of the tourism sector. The results show that this standard allows establishments to implement the necessary mechanisms to manage the key areas of the organization adequately from a quality approach. The implementation level of each of the key areas is close to 70%, except for process management that does not exceed 50%. Furthermore, it was found that the way of managing key areas, positively influences the results on customers, employees, society and key results. However, the data show that rural establishments still have a long way to go in terms of quality, in order to be a support key component for the public administration, to boost the birth of Rural Tourism Destinations.