Research Article

Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio

Volume: 12 Number: 2 September 8, 2026

Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio

Abstract

This study examines whether diversification of accommodation supply transforms into diversification of visitor timing. Using monthly hotel and rural accommodation data for Spain’s 50 provinces in 2015–2019 and 2023–2024, it distinguishes operating capacity from realized demand, measures hotel–rural calendar alignment, and compares pooled, within-province, Mundlak, temporal, regional, and spatially robust estimates. Inland provinces had larger rural operating shares and flatter aggregate calendars, yet rural accommodation was more seasonal than hotels in most provinces, and the two calendars were closely aligned. Adding rural nights slightly increased combined seasonal concentration, while adjusted and within-province models provided no stable evidence that a larger rural operating share reduced seasonality. The findings show that accommodation diversification does not necessarily produce temporal diversification. Policy should therefore prioritize calendar complementarity, off-season service continuity, establishment opening, and market timing rather than rural bed capacity alone.

Keywords

References

  1. Amelung, B., Nicholls, S., & Viner, D. (2007). Implications of global climate change for tourism flows and seasonality. Journal of Travel Research, 45(3), 285–296. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0047287506295937
  2. Benítez-Aurioles, B. (2022). Seasonality in the peer-to-peer market for tourist accommodation: The case of Majorca. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 5(2), 331–349. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-10-2020-0192
  3. Boto-García, D., & Pérez, L. (2023). The effect of high-speed rail connectivity and accessibility on tourism seasonality. Journal of Transport Geography, 107, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jtrangeo.2023.103546
  4. Capó Parrilla, J., Riera Font, A., & Rosselló Nadal, J. (2007). Accommodation determinants of seasonal patterns. Annals of Tourism Research, 34(2), 422–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. annals.2006.10.002
  5. Cawley, M., & Gillmor, D. A. (2008). Integrated rural tourism: Concepts and practice. Annals of Tourism Research, 35(2), 316–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2007.07.011
  6. Cisneros-Martínez, J. D., & Fernández-Morales, A. (2015). Cultural tourism as tourist segment for reducing seasonality in a coastal area: The case study of Andalusia. Current Issues in Tourism, 18(8), 765–784. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500. 2013.861810
  7. Cisneros-Martínez, J. D., McCabe, S., & Fernández-Morales, A. (2023). Assessing the contribution of different markets in combatting destination seasonality: The case of Benidorm, Spain. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 29, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2023.100802
  8. Conley, T. G. (1999). GMM estimation with cross sectional dependence. Journal of Econometrics, 92(1), 1–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(98)00084-0

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Tourism Management

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

August 24, 2026

Publication Date

September 8, 2026

Submission Date

July 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 2

APA
Li, Z. (2026). Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, 12(2), 126-138. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1998768
AMA
1.Li Z. Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12(2):126-138. doi:10.24288/jttr.1998768
Chicago
Li, Ziming. 2026. “Does Rural Accommodation Diversify Accommodation Calendars? Provincial Evidence from Spain’s Hotel–rural Accommodation Portfolio”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 (2): 126-38. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1998768.
EndNote
Li Z (September 1, 2026) Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 2 126–138.
IEEE
[1]Z. Li, “Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio”, Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 126–138, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.24288/jttr.1998768.
ISNAD
Li, Ziming. “Does Rural Accommodation Diversify Accommodation Calendars? Provincial Evidence from Spain’s Hotel–rural Accommodation Portfolio”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12/2 (September 1, 2026): 126-138. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1998768.
JAMA
1.Li Z. Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12:126–138.
MLA
Li, Ziming. “Does Rural Accommodation Diversify Accommodation Calendars? Provincial Evidence from Spain’s Hotel–rural Accommodation Portfolio”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 2, Sept. 2026, pp. 126-38, doi:10.24288/jttr.1998768.
Vancouver
1.Ziming Li. Does rural accommodation diversify accommodation calendars? Provincial evidence from Spain’s hotel–rural accommodation portfolio. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026 Sep. 1;12(2):126-38. doi:10.24288/jttr.1998768