Assessment of the Level of Acceptance and Readiness for E-Payment among Accommodation Establishments in Surigao del Sur

Hospitality Management

This study assessed the level of acceptance and readiness for electronic payment (e-payment) systems among Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited accommodation establishments in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Using a quantitative descriptive–correlational design, a complete enumeration of all 21 accredited establishments was surveyed to determine adoption levels, influencing factors, perceived benefits, challenges, and readiness for digital transactions. Results revealed full adoption of e-payment systems, with GCash being the most widely used platform due to accessibility and convenience. Factors such as trust, reliability, and ease of use were identified as the strongest influences in choosing providers. Establishments demonstrated high readiness across infrastructure, staff and management, security, and customer-related indicators, although business process integration was relatively weaker. Respondents strongly agreed on the benefits of e-payment systems, particularly convenience, faster transactions, improved record-keeping, and attracting tech-savvy customers. Challenges included unstable internet connectivity, fraud risks, and limited government support. Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between perceived benefits and perceived challenges, indicating that these factors influence adoption independently. Overall, the study concludes that Surigao del Sur’s accommodation establishments are both highly accepting and prepared for e-payment adoption, but sustained success will depend on strengthening infrastructure, digital literacy, and institutional support to ensure a modern, secure, and customer-oriented tourism sector.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.