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Abstract

Conflicting and somewhat controversial views on
using air-conditioning in tropical tourist resorts were
revealed during a recent study tour of several
countries in the Pacific region. Although conscious
of detrimental implications for the environment,
economics and even operational aspects of the use
of mechanical devices to provide indoor comfort
to visitors, many resort managers claimed market
pressure has been the driving force behind the
installation of air-conditioners within their facilities.
This study follows an earlier survey of tourists visiting
northern Australia, which demonstrated significant
dissatisfaction with the indoor climate. The rationale
for a year-round, fully controlled environment was
found questionable when, in the hot and humid
weather of the tropical summer, nearly half of the
surveyed tourists did not perceive those conditions
as justifying the use of air-conditioners. Responses
collected through the visitor survey proposed that
tourist resort developers and operators’ understanding
of tourists’ needs in this respect was flawed. This
difference in opinion has been confirmed in the
current study, where managers were adamant as to
the need for air-conditioning despite their units being
capable of performing reasonably well without it. This
paper presents the findings of the study and attempts
to draw conclusions in regard to the perceptions and
policies influencing design of tropical resorts.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Bromberek, Z
Keywords:	Air-conditioning, tropics, comfort, tourists, resorts
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Architectural Research
Publisher:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ISSN:	1994-6961
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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