International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences May 2013, Vol. 3, No. 5 ISSN: 2222-6990 444 www.hrmars.com/journals IŶterŶatioŶal Tourists’ EŶviroŶŵeŶtal Attitude towards Hotels in Accra Ishmael Mensah Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Cape Coast, Ghana Rebecca Dei Mensah School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Ghana Abstract The available literature suggests that there has been a rise in green consumerism not only aŵoŶg geŶeƌal ĐoŶsuŵeƌs ďut touƌists. This has pƌoǀided the iŵpetus foƌ the gƌeeŶiŶg of hotels as hotel guests haǀe iŶdiĐated theiƌ pƌefeƌeŶĐe foƌ hotels that tak e care of the eŶǀiƌoŶŵeŶt. Ironically, the environmental impacts of hotels especially with regards to the consumption of energy and water are more likely to be exacerbated by their guests. In spite of this, most studies on environmental management in hotels have centred on programmes and initiatives undertaken by management with little focus on the attitudes and behaviour of guests. This studLJ sought to assess iŶteƌŶatioŶal touƌists eŶǀiƌoŶŵeŶtal attitude toǁaƌds hotels in Accra and the implications for environmental management by hotels. A sample of 343 international tourists was surveyed at major tourist attraction sites in Accra. The results of the study indicate that a majority of respondents generally held the view that hotels do not destroy the environment but contribute to the global environmental problems. Most of them (83%) were therefore willing to pay more to stay in a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude. There was also a significant positive relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics of tourist such age and sex and their environmental behaviour. The results of this study have implications for environmental education of guests and the marketing of hotels. Keywords: Environmental, Behaviour, Attitude, Tourist, Hotel, Accra Introduction The adoption and implementation of sustainable tourism practices by the tourism industry has been partly occasioned by the observation that tourists are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental conditions of destinations they intend to visit. Foster, Sampson and Dunn (2000) identify consumer demand as one of the forces exerting pressure on service sector firms to be environmentally friendly. Generally, there has been a growth of green consumerism (Holden, 2000). Consumers are increasingly becoming environmental-conscious and will buy pƌoduĐts fƌoŵ oƌgaŶizatioŶs that take Đaƌe of the eŶǀiƌoŶŵeŶt. The touƌisŵ iŶdustƌLJ has Ŷot been insulated from this wave of environmentalism since tourists are also becoming discerning and will travel to destinations that offer clean and green tourist products. In a study of UK ĐoŶsuŵeƌs attitude oŶ paĐkage holidaLJs ďLJ Maƌket aŶd OpiŶioŶ ‘eseaƌĐh IŶteƌŶatioŶal ;Ipsos