Home exchange as a form of special interest tourism: exploring experiences of Budapest home exchange hosts and guests

Purpose This study explores the experiences and perceived values of home exchangers in Budapest to fill a significant gap in the academic literature regarding peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation platforms and aims to answer the research question: What role does home exchange play in catering to special interest tourists seeking personalized, immersive experiences in Budapest? Design/methodology/approach The research has applied the qualitative method of semi-structured interviews conducted with nine home exchange hosts in Budapest. Findings The findings indicate that besides economic benefits, users value the opportunity to experience destinations as locals, with hosts and guests frequently highlighting the importance of authentic cultural exchange and personal connections. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this study is the small sample size of the research. As the study applied a qualitative instrument (semi-structured interviews) with a small sample, the results are not generalizable. Furthermore, a possible selection bias needs to be highlighted as a limitation since the participants responded to an open call for interviews within a home exchange community, and the voluntary interviewees are all enthusiastic members of the community wishing to contribute. Finally, the results relate to the specific Hungarian (Budapest) context and would require further research to examine a broader context with a larger sample. Practical implications The article does not include formal perspectives from tourism practitioners or policymakers; however, home exchange hosts actively participate in and shape the home exchange ecosystem; therefore, they can be considered practitioner-adjacent stakeholders. Their insights add practical knowledge on how home exchange works in real-world settings as well as industry-relevant trends, particularly around trust, guest expectations, commercialization risks and strategic considerations for home exchange platform operators and regulators. Social implications The results suggest that home exchange can be a sustainable tourism alternative, reducing overtourism and fostering localized, slow travel experiences. Originality/value From the perspective of special interest tourism in Budapest, this study is particularly important as it highlights how home exchange caters to travelers seeking niche experiences that go beyond typical tourist activities. Special interest tourists, who often prioritize unique, personalized and immersive travel experiences, find home exchange an appealing option for engaging with local cultures and communities in a meaningful way. This study’s added value also lies in its focus on a largely overlooked area within P2P accommodation research – home exchange’s role in enhancing guest experiences through noncommercial, community-driven travel. By addressing this research gap, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how different P2P platforms cater to distinct user expectations and cultural values, thus broadening the scope of tourism literature and offering valuable implications for future research and platform development.