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Pro-Environmental Behavior of Tourists in Ecotourism Scenic Spots: The Promoting Role of Tourist Experience Quality in Place Attachment

Author

Listed:
  • Jiantao Zhang

    (The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China)

  • Li Jin

    (The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China)

  • Xinning Pan

    (College of Economic and Management, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110086, China)

  • Yang Wang

    (College of Economic and Management, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110086, China)

Abstract

The pro-environmental behavior of tourists is an important guarantee for the sustainable development of ecotourism scenic spots. This article is based on 806 tourist survey data from two ecotourism scenic spots, making use of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the structural equation model (SEM) to explore the impact of tourist experience quality on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior. The research findings indicate that (1) the quality of the tourist experience is an important factor affecting the formation of place attachment; (2) the quality of tourism experience directly and positively affects place dependence, and indirectly affects place identity through the mediating factor of place dependence; and (3) the direct impact of tourist experience quality on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is significant, with place attachment playing a mediating role. This article provides inspiration for scenic spots to encourage tourists to engage in pro-environmental behavior. In the process of stimulating tourists to engage in pro-environmental behaviors, ecotourism scenic spots should pay more attention to the tourist experiences and emotional experiences. Scenic spots should make more efforts to improve the quality of the tourist experience, so that tourists can develop a sense of dependence on ecotourism scenic spots, gradually form self-identification with the scenic spots, and engage in environmentally friendly behavior, helping to achieve the sustainable development of ecotourism scenic spots.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiantao Zhang & Li Jin & Xinning Pan & Yang Wang, 2024. "Pro-Environmental Behavior of Tourists in Ecotourism Scenic Spots: The Promoting Role of Tourist Experience Quality in Place Attachment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:8984-:d:1500602
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ge Wang & Liman Huang & Changliang Xu & Kai He & Kang Shen & Peiyu Liang, 2022. "Analysis of the Mediating Role of Place Attachment in the Link between Tourists’ Authentic Experiences of, Involvement in, and Loyalty to Rural Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Farzana Sharmin & Mohammad Tipu Sultan & Alina Badulescu & Dorin Paul Bac & Benqian Li, 2020. "Millennial Tourists’ Environmentally Sustainable Behavior Towards a Natural Protected Area: An Integrative Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Daryanto, Ahmad & Song, Zening, 2021. "A meta-analysis of the relationship between place attachment and pro-environmental behaviour," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 208-219.
    4. Su, Lujun & Huang, Songshan (Sam) & Pearce, Joanna, 2018. "How does destination social responsibility contribute to environmentally responsible behaviour? A destination resident perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 179-189.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinyi Wu & Weiguo Jia & Tianyu Wu, 2024. "Mechanism by Which Environmental Education Influences Pro-Environmental Behavior in Wuyishan National Park, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Yuhao Lin & Ji-Hwan Yoon & Guangyu Xiao, 2025. "Promoting Sustainable Island Tourism Through Tourists’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Integrating VIP, VAB, and TPB," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-27, May.

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