What do Users of Mountain Huts Demand? Comparative Analysis of Social Network Ratings on the Cavalls del Vent (Catalan Pyrenees) and Gr-20 (Corsica) Hiking Trails

The purpose of this study is to analyse the range of mountain huts in the Pyrenees and Corsica and to examine whether there has been a change in trends in this segment of the sports tourism market. This research has followed a qualitative methodology. Specifically, a total of 3,767 online reviews of more than 20 mountain huts have been analysed using the ATLAS.ti tool. The results indicate that users of mountain huts demand higher quality services. The results obtained in this research can help mountain huts managers adapt their offerings to the new needs of their customers. This research opens the door to the professionalisation of mountain huts in the tourism industry. The value of the study rests on two pillars: the study of mountain huts as an element within sports tourism; and the methodology, as e-Word of Mouth (e-WOM) has been used as a data collection strategy.