Differentiating Factors of Patterns of Choosing Accommodation among Domestic Tourists in Mashhad

Given the large number of tourists and pilgrims having different accommodation interests, different formal and informal accommodation centers have been established in Mashhad in the last decade. The tourists who use the accommodation facilities have the greatest influence on the economy of destinations. The cost of accommodation is mainly the first concern among the traveling expenses of tourists in Mashhad. This shows the significance of economic issues of tourism. Using diagnostic analysis technique, this study tried to identify the differentiating patterns of tourists regarding accommodation in Mashhad. This survey used a research-made questionnaire to collect data. The population was tourists and native pilgrims of Mashhad in early 2019. Results showed that choosing the place of accommodation for tourists in Mashhad is non-institutional (68%) and based on collective decisions (88%). Exploring differentiating factors of choosing a place of accommodation showed that tourists’ social status plays an important role in choosing a place of accommodation though it is not the only determining factor. In addition to the issues, the tourists’ values regarding accommodation and their preference system regarding travel, and travel motivations influence tourists’ choosing accommodation in Mashhad. The results showed that choosing the accommodation has not only an economic implication but implies a social meaning as well. Accommodation is influenced by economic status of tourists and is affected by their social status and life styles. Most of tourists of Mashhad are of the lower middle class. Therefore, the tourism managers and accommodation planners of Mashhad should mainly focus on the pragmatic than the symbolic dimension of tourism when deciding on the development of accommodation centers.