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Visitor Engagement, Relationship Quality, and Environmentally Responsible Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoli Zhou

    (Department of History-Culture & Tourism Management, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046000, China)

  • Chengcai Tang

    (School of Tourism Sciences, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing 100024, China
    Research center of Beijing Tourism Development, Beijing 100024, China)

  • Xingyang Lv

    (School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Bo Xing

    (Management School, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

Abstract

Visitor environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) is helpful for promoting the sustainable development of tourist destinations. Existing studies on visitor ERB tend to either focus on restraining visitors’ environmental misconducts or rely on visitors’ psychological factors. Based on the theory of engagement, this paper constructs a theoretical model to explain visitors’ self-conscious ERB. Visitor engagement with the destination is investigated as an independent variable which leads to the improvement of relationship quality and visitor ERB. Relationship quality is explored to mediate the impact of visitor engagement on ERB. In addition, the moderating role of environmental clue on the tested relationships is also examined. This study adopts partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to investigate a total of 410 valid questionnaires. The results show that (1) visitor engagement with the destination positively affects visitor ERB; (2) relationship quality mediates the impact of visitor engagement on visitor ERB; (3) environmental clue plays a significant moderating role in the effects of engagement and relationship quality on visitor ERB. The study extends theoretical perspectives on visitor ERB and customer engagement, and provides managerially practical value to better understand visitors’ self-conscious ERB.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoli Zhou & Chengcai Tang & Xingyang Lv & Bo Xing, 2020. "Visitor Engagement, Relationship Quality, and Environmentally Responsible Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1151-:d:319838
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Wenjun Lu & Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp & Sukhuman Klamsaengsai & Kanokkan Ketkaew & Sasawalai Tonsakunthaweeteam & Long Li, 2025. "Influence of Creative Tourist Experiences and Engagement on Gen Z’s Environmentally Responsible Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Zanete Garanti & Shiva Ilkhanizadeh & Sotiroula Liasidou, 2024. "Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Maria Antoniadou & Georgios Chrysochoou & Rafael Tzanetopoulos & Elena Riza, 2023. "Green Dental Environmentalism among Students and Dentists in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, June.

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