Exploring motivations and satisfaction of ecolodge patrons in desert areas of Iran

Purpose This paper explores travel motivations and characteristics of European ecotourists who visit ecolodges in desert areas of Iran. It also evaluates 26 ecolodge attributes from the perspective of the European patrons. Design/methodology/approach Different methods were adopted for the aim of this study, comprising the importance-performance analysis technique and a questionnaire survey. Findings A survey of 386 patrons in 12 selected ecolodges found that most European ecotourists were middle-aged to old adults (36–65 years old) and highly educated who traveled with their spouses or friends. Ecotourists generally stayed in ecolodges for 2–5 days to learn and explore nature and be in the wilderness and undisturbed nature. This study also showed that the ecolodges are successful to a large extent, yet they need to focus more on their services and facilities. Practical implications Due to the significance of international tourists for the economy, decision-makers and managers must learn about tourists' motivations and travel satisfaction to be able to compete against their rivals in the marketplace. The result of this study may help the owners and managers of ecolodges in desert areas understand the needs and priorities of European tourists. Originality/value This study expanded the existing literature of motivations and satisfaction of tourists in the ecolodge industry.