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Will the Future Be Greener? The Environmental Behavioral Intentions of University Tourism Students

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  • Su-Lan Pan

    (School of Tourism & Hospitality Management and Institute for Development of Cross-strait Small and Medium Enterprises at Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan 430205, China)

  • Ju Chou

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education at National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan)

  • Alastair M. Morrison

    (National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Kaohsiung 80217, Taiwan)

  • Wen-Shiung Huang

    (Department of Tourism and Leisure Management at Ling Tung University, Taichung 40852, Taiwan)

  • Meng-Chen Lin

    (School of Business Administration at Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan 430205, China)

Abstract

Sustainable tourism is essential for tourism sector development. Environmentally responsible behaviors and behavioral intentions are important prerequisites for sustainable tourism. This research explores the behavioral intentions of university tourism students and significant factors affecting these behavioral intentions. The questionnaire survey method was applied to university students from the tourism departments of nine universities in Taiwan. A total of 390 valid questionnaires were collected. The pro-environmental behavioral intentions of the students ranged from moderate to high. Environmental knowledge positively affected behavioral intentions and positively influenced environmental sensitivity and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, environmental sensitivity and environmental responsibility exerted a full effect in mediating the relationship between environmental knowledge and behavioral intentions. Hence, increasing students’ environmental knowledge will enhance their behavioral intentions. However, by improving students’ sensitivity and responsibility, their intentions to protect the environment can be more effectively elevated. Development implications and recommendations for sustainable tourism and higher education are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Su-Lan Pan & Ju Chou & Alastair M. Morrison & Wen-Shiung Huang & Meng-Chen Lin, 2018. "Will the Future Be Greener? The Environmental Behavioral Intentions of University Tourism Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:634-:d:133918
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    2. Majdi M. Alomari & Hania El-Kanj & Ayse Topal, 2021. "Analysis of Energy Conservation Behavior at the Kuwaiti Academic Buildings," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(1), pages 219-232.
    3. Yayla Özgür & Keskin Emrah & Keles Hüseyin, 2022. "The Relationship Between Environmental Sensitivity, Ecological Attitude, and the Ecological Product purchasing Behaviour of Tourists," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 12(1), pages 31-45, December.
    4. Michael Tarrant & Stephen Schweinsberg & Adam Landon & Stephen L. Wearing & Matthew McDonald & Donald Rubin, 2021. "Exploring Student Engagement in Sustainability Education and Study Abroad," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Elisa Giampietri & Samuele Trestini, 2023. "Pro-Environmental Viticulture: Status Quo and Perspectives from Prosecco Winegrowers in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Md. Sahabuddin & Qingmei Tan & Imran Hossain & Md. Shariful Alam & Md. Nekmahmud, 2021. "Tourist Environmentally Responsible Behavior and Satisfaction; Study on the World’s Longest Natural Sea Beach, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Carl Marnewick & Gilbert Silvius & Ron Schipper, 2019. "Exploring Patterns of Sustainability Stimuli of Project Managers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Nirda de Jesús Colón-Flores & Maira Rafaela Vargas-Martínez & Joselina Caridad Tavarez-De Henríquez & Cándida María Domínguez-Valerio, 2023. "Environmental, Social and Economic Attitudes and Sustainable Knowledge on the Sustainable Behaviour of Engineering Students: An Analysis Based on Attitudes towards Teachers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    9. Piyapong Janmaimool & Surapong Chudech, 2020. "Effect of Domestic and Global Environmental Events on Environmental Concern and Environmental Responsibility among University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, February.

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