Millennial Tourists’ Environmentally Sustainable Behavior Towards a Natural Protected Area: An Integrative Framework

Study on the influence path of public participation in marine ecotourism under the perspective of conspicuous consumption - Analysis of fsQCA based on VBN theory

Marine ecological tourism has become a popular topic in recent years, and the public's conspicuous consumption behavior is also a hot topic studied by many scholars. How to explore and stimulate the public's conspicuous consumption behavior in marine ecological tourism is an important issue that we need to address. Based on the "value-belief-norm" (VBN) theory and using the fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method, this article analyzes 462 valid samples collected through a questionnaire to explore whether the combination of VBN theory's conditional elements affects the public's conspicuous consumption behavior in marine ecological tourism. The study found that the path of public conspicuous consumption behavior has the characteristics of "different paths leading to the same destination," that is, the combination of conditional elements from different dimensions can stimulate the goal of public conspicuous consumption behavior, and a single-dimensional conditional element is not a necessary condition to increase public conspicuous consumption behavior. Environmental values, such as biosphere values and altruistic values, significantly affect the public's conspicuous consumption behavior.

Understanding the Environmentally Sustainable Behavior of Chinese University Students as Tourists: An Integrative Framework

The purpose of this study is to develop a theoretical framework by integrating the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory with environmental awareness in measuring Chinese university students' environmentally sustainable behavior toward tourism destinations. University students tend to engage in sustainability efforts since their values and beliefs are still being formed. The participants were 301 university students from a university in eastern China. The empirical findings demonstrate that: (1) environmental awareness has positive influences on biospheric value, altruistic value and egoistic value; (2) biospheric value positively predicts the new ecological paradigm (NEP), whereas altruistic and egoistic values do not; (3) the NEP, awareness of consequence and personal norms play an important mediating role. Results indicate that extended VBN can explain students' environmentally sustainable behavior. This research supports the growth of sustainable tourism and has a number of practical implications for universities and the relevant environmental departments to promote university students' involvement in sustainable tourism.

Survey dataset for the perceived consciousness towards environmental sustainability by undergraduate students

The scope of the dataset allows to examine undergraduate hospitality and tourism students’ intentions towards environmental sustainability. Moreover, it is possible to compare factors (knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention) towards environmental sustainability between hospitality and tourism students based on different socio-demographic characteristics. To fulfill these objectives, data was collected through a bilingual questionnaire containing 312 valid responses from undergraduate students studying towards a business degree. The questionnaire was administered at the Prince of Songkla University in Phuket, Thailand in the fourth quarter of 2021. Moreover, the data collection adhered to the NESH principles applicable for Social Science Research. The data collection instrument was validated for international consistency and reliability through a three-person panel of research experts and validated using the IOC method. Furthermore, the questionnaire was tested with a targeted sample consisting of ten students prior to its implementation. The dataset serves as an insightful reference for practitioners and policymakers in higher education to adjust their pedagogy, in addition to, as a secondary data source for educational researchers to examine undergraduate hospitality and tourism students’ intentions towards environmental sustainability.

Does a National Park Enhance the Environment-Friendliness of Tourists as an Ecotourism Destination?

Governments have designated national parks to protect the natural environment against ecosystem destruction and improve individuals’ emotional and recreational life. National parks enhance environment-friendly awareness by conducting ecotourism activities and individuals with environment-friendly awareness are inclined to continue to visit national parks as ecotourism destinations. The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) is a widely used measure of environmental concern, suitable for measuring the environment-friendly attitude and revisit intention of visitors of national parks. Therefore, the study carried out structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the relationship between the NEP, national park conservation consciousness and environment-friendly behavioral intention. Based on the results, an implication is presented to induce national parks to cultivate individual environment-friendly awareness and for visitors to pursue sustainable, environment-friendly tourism behavior. The findings indicate that national parks are to expand educational programs and facilities for eco-tourists visiting national parks to maintain a balanced relationship between themselves and nature and have a strong environmental awareness to preserve the natural environment.

Tourism Economic Network Structural Characteristics of National Parks in the Central Region of China

The social network analysis has been actively applied in various tourist destinations, with a few studies on the tourism economic network structure of national parks. Taking the national parks in the Central Region of China as research objects, this study applies the modified gravity model to measure the strength of tourism economic connection. The social network analysis method (SNA) is used to analyze the network structure of tourism economic connection among national parks from the perspectives of overall network density, network centrality, and cohesive subgroups. The results show that the intensity of the tourism relationships among national parks in Central China is unbalanced in spatial distribution. The structure of tourism economic network presents a multi-core model. Lushan Mountain, Shaoshan, Wudang Mountain, and other national parks play a necessary role in the transmission of regional tourism economic elements. There are cohesive subgroups of connections among national parks, which are closely related to administrative divisions and regional cultural background. The subgroups of interior scenes in the same province are more closely related, and the degree of tourism integration still needs to be improved. The study advances the understanding of tourism economic network relationships among tourist attractions in a destination.

Long-Term Impact of Study Abroad on Sustainability-Related Attitudes and Behaviors

Using study abroad as a vehicle for sustainable education is a growing trend. However, an examination of the impact of study abroad on participants’ sustainability-related attitudes and behaviors years after their programs is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how a short-term sustainability themed study abroad program impacted students’ sustainability-related attitudes and behaviors. Since long-term personal development and change of attitudes are complex and multidimensional, a qualitative approach was used allowing participants to share their experiences and reflections on the process of learning and internalizing sustainability. A total of 31 study abroad participants were interviewed (20 to 33 years of age) and a grounded theory method was used throughout the study. Participants’ behavioral changes were identified, and the specific study abroad program designs that were associated with such changes were identified and discussed. The three behavioral changes identified by the participants were lifestyle, professional development, and responsible travel behaviors. The effective program design elements include emotion, cognition, and action. Furthermore, the findings suggested revisions to the Value–Belief–Norm model in that more motives should be added whereas, weight of responsibility might need to be reevaluated. This study contributes to the educational tourism and sustainability literature with practical implications for program design, and a better understanding of students’ long-term learning outcomes regarding sustainability.