Consumer Behaviour in the Shared Accommodation Sector: Revealing the Performance in Slovakia

Over the past few decades, globalisation, digitalisation, and social transformation have fostered the emergence of the sharing economy as a new economic model. This article examines consumer behaviour in the Slovak sharing economy, with a particular emphasis on the accommodation sector. The main objective of the study is to map consumer behaviour in the area of the sharing economy in the Slovak Republic and to determine the factors influencing this consumer behaviour in the accommodation sector. A questionnaire survey of 385 respondents was used to conduct quantitative research, with statistical validation using Pearson's test and a proportional agreement test. According to the findings, the majority of consumers, particularly those in the younger and higher income groups, have positive experiences with shared accommodation platforms. The most influential elements in accommodation selection were found to be price, location, and user reviews. From a theoretical approach, the study contributes to the small body of research on sharing economy adoption in smaller European Union countries, highlighting the relevance of socioeconomic considerations in shaping consumer preferences. In managerial terms, the research underlines the need for platforms to improve trust, openness, and flexibility, particularly in terms of service quality and cancellation rules. Furthermore, the findings emphasise the need to increase public knowledge of the benefits of the sharing economy through focused media efforts and government backing. The study's novelty stems from its contextual focus on Slovakia and its integration of consumer satisfaction data with strategic recommendations for sustainable tourism development and regulatory legislation.