IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i10p4353-d1653688.html

From Sustainable Tourism to Social Engagement: A Value-Belief-Norm Approach to the Roles of Environmental Knowledge, Eco-Destination Image, and Biospheric Value

Author

Listed:
  • Sana Alashiq

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, via Mersin 10, Mersin 33010, Northern Cyprus, Turkey)

  • Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani

    (Department of Business Administration, Institute of Graduate Research and Studies, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, via Mersin 10, Mersin 33010, Northern Cyprus, Turkey)

Abstract

This study, grounded in the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory, examines how tourism sustainability influences pro-environmental tourist behavior through the mediating roles of environmental knowledge and eco-destination image and the moderating role of biospheric value. Data were collected from 396 tourists visiting major destinations in Northern Cyprus via an online survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to assess direct, mediating, and moderating effects. The findings reveal that tourism sustainability positively influences social engagement propensity, with both environmental knowledge and eco-destination image acting as significant mediators. Moreover, biospheric values were found to enhance the relationship between tourism sustainability and both mediators, although no moderating effect was observed between tourism sustainability and social engagement propensity. This study extends the application of the VBN theory in the tourism context by framing social engagement as a norm-driven outcome. It provides valuable insights for destination managers aiming to promote sustainable behaviors in emerging eco-tourism settings. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and single-destination focus. Future research could explore diverse cultural settings and adopt longitudinal approaches to validate and expand upon these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Sana Alashiq & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "From Sustainable Tourism to Social Engagement: A Value-Belief-Norm Approach to the Roles of Environmental Knowledge, Eco-Destination Image, and Biospheric Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-28, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4353-:d:1653688
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4353/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4353/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ibrahim Almahdi Jibril & Mehmet Yeşiltaş, 2022. "Employee Satisfaction, Talent Management Practices and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in the Northern Cyprus Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Mbaye Fall Diallo & Fatou Diop-Sall & Erick Leroux & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2015. "Responsible tourist behaviour : The role of social engagement," Post-Print hal-01998024, HAL.
    3. Elsie Nasr & Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Souha Al-Geitany, 2022. "Destination Social Responsibility and Residents’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Assessing the Mediating Role of Community Attachment and Involvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    4. Adongo, Charles A. & Taale, Francis & Adam, Issahaku, 2018. "Tourists' values and empathic attitude toward sustainable development in tourism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 251-263.
    5. Nora Anicker & Sebastian Bamberg & Peter Pütz & Gerd Bohner, 2024. "Do Biospheric Values Moderate the Impact of Information Appeals on Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Masoud Shafieieh & Ali Ozturen & Hamed Rezapouraghdam & Osman M. Karatepe, 2024. "Does Critical Thinking Mediate the Relationship between Sustainability Knowledge and Tourism Students’ Ability to Make Sustainable Decisions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Sadia Aziz & Muhammad Abdullah Khan Niazi, 2023. "Understanding environmentally responsible behavior of tourists at coastal tourist destinations," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 19(10), pages 1952-1977, May.
    8. Parga Dans, Eva & Alonso González, Pablo, 2019. "Sustainable tourism and social value at World Heritage Sites: Towards a conservation plan for Altamira, Spain," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 68-80.
    9. Miguel Ángel Montañés-Del-Río & José Aurelio Medina-Garrido, 2020. "Determinants of the Propensity for Innovation among Entrepreneurs in the Tourism Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    10. Min-Seong Kim & Jinwon Kim & Brijesh Thapa, 2018. "Influence of Environmental Knowledge on Affect, Nature Affiliation and Pro-Environmental Behaviors among Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    11. Jiawei Li & J. Andres Coca‐Stefaniak & Thi Hong Hai Nguyen & Alastair M. Morrison, 2024. "Sustainable tourist behavior: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 3356-3374, August.
    12. Khaled Tekala & Sarvnaz Baradarani & Ahmad Alzubi & Ayşen Berberoğlu, 2024. "Green Entrepreneurship for Business Sustainability: Do Environmental Dynamism and Green Structural Capital Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-24, June.
    13. Huseyin Keles & Ozgur Yayla & Abdullah Tarinc & Ali Keles, 2023. "The Effect of Environmental Management Practices and Knowledge in Strengthening Responsible Behavior: The Moderator Role of Environmental Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Israel-Javier Juma-Michilena & Maria-Eugenia Ruiz-Molina & Irene Gil-Saura & Sergio Belda-Miquel, 2024. "Pro-environmental behaviours of generation Z: A cross-cultural approach," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 21(3), pages 1-29, September.
    15. Tina Davoodi & Balkiz Yapicoglu & Uğur Ulaş Dağlı, 2023. "Measuring Residential Satisfaction in Historic Areas Using Actual–Aspiration Gap Theory: The Case of Famagusta, Northern Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-24, February.
    16. Razan Ibrahim Awwad & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Sameer Hamdan, 2022. "Examining the Relationships Between Frontline Bank Employees’ Job Demands and Job Satisfaction: A Mediated Moderation Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, February.
    17. Samah Ibnou-Laaroussi & Husam Rjoub & Wing-Keung Wong, 2020. "Sustainability of Green Tourism among International Tourists and Its Influence on the Achievement of Green Environment: Evidence from North Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    18. Elhassan Enbaia & Ahmad Alzubi & Kolawole Iyiola & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2024. "The Interplay Between Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Performance: Does Organizational Green Culture and Green Innovation Really Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-24, November.
    19. Ali Mamash & Kolawole Iyiola & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "The Role of Circular Economy Entrepreneurship, Cleaner Production, and Green Government Subsidy for Achieving Sustainability Goals in Business Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-26, April.
    20. Souha Al-Geitany & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali & Elsie Nasr, 2023. "Consumer Behavior in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Impact of Perceived Interactivity on Behavioral Intention in the Context of Virtual Conferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Moussa Elkhweildi & Benard Vetbuje & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Leading with Green Ethics: How Environmentally Specific Ethical Leadership Enhances Employee Job Performance Through Communication and Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-31, September.
    2. Thanavutd Chutiphongdech & Paron Vongchan & Yan Zhao & Brian P. McCullough, 2026. "Sustainable sport event management through ESG: a systematic literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 10433-10486, April.
    3. Iyyad Zahran & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Seduced by Style: How Instagram Fashion Influencers Build Brand Loyalty Through Customer Engagement in Sustainable Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-27, September.
    4. Emaduldin Alfaqiyah & Ahmad Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Tolga Öz, 2025. "How Industry 4.0 Technologies Enhance Supply Chain Resilience: The Interplay of Agility, Adaptability, and Customer Integration in Manufacturing Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-30, September.
    5. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:12:p:1759-1769 is not listed on IDEAS

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nidal Neiroukh & Dilber Çağlar, 2025. "Unveiling the Nexus Between Audit Quality and Financial Performance: A Strategic Adaptation Approach Through Earnings Management and Corporate Governance," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, December.
    2. Moussa Elkhweildi & Benard Vetbuje & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Leading with Green Ethics: How Environmentally Specific Ethical Leadership Enhances Employee Job Performance Through Communication and Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-31, September.
    3. Ibrahim Alkish & Kolawole Iyiola & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Does Digitization Lead to Sustainable Economic Behavior? Investigating the Roles of Employee Well-Being and Learning Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-29, May.
    4. Zaynab Asbeetah & Ahmad Alzubi & Amir Khadem & Kolawole Iyiola, 2025. "Harnessing Digital Transformation for Sustainable Performance: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Green Knowledge Acquisition and Innovation Performance Under Digital Transformational Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Diallo, Mbaye Fall & Diop-Sall, Fatou & Leroux, Erick & Vachon, Marc-Antoine, 2022. "How do tourism sustainability and nature affinity affect social engagement propensity? The central roles of nature conservation attitude and personal tourist experience," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    6. Rajia Ageli & Ahmad Bassam Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Kolawole Iyiola, 2025. "How and When Entrepreneurial Leadership Drives Sustainable Bank Performance: Unpacking the Roles of Employee Creativity and Innovation-Oriented Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-31, October.
    7. Ali Mamash & Kolawole Iyiola & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "The Role of Circular Economy Entrepreneurship, Cleaner Production, and Green Government Subsidy for Achieving Sustainability Goals in Business Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Emaduldin Alfaqiyah & Ahmad Alzubi & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Tolga Öz, 2025. "How Industry 4.0 Technologies Enhance Supply Chain Resilience: The Interplay of Agility, Adaptability, and Customer Integration in Manufacturing Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-30, September.
    9. Iyyad Zahran & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Seduced by Style: How Instagram Fashion Influencers Build Brand Loyalty Through Customer Engagement in Sustainable Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-27, September.
    10. Nathakorn Loedphacharakamon & Therdchai Choibamroong, 2025. "Attitudinal Segmentation and the Perceived Value of Sustainable Practices in Luxury Hotels: Evidence from Chinese Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-26, June.
    11. Housamaden Mousa & Wagdi Khalifa & Ahmad Alzubi, 2024. "Green Supply Chain Practices and Environmental Performance: A Moderated Role of Adaptive Green Culture and Mediated Role of Competitive Pressure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    12. Esam Salamah & Ahmad Alzubi & Azmiye Yinal, 2023. "Unveiling the Impact of Digitalization on Supply Chain Performance in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Mediating Role of Supply Chain Integration and Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-28, December.
    13. Haipeng Zhang & Kangning Xiong & Guangyu Fei & Ao Jin & Shirong Zhang, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Conservation Intentions of Visitors to a World Heritage Site: A Case Study of Libo Karst," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    14. I Wayan Koko Suryawan & Sapta Suhardono & Ari Rahman & Thi Thanh Thuy Phan & Chun-Hung Lee, 2025. "Redesigning Tourism Management Using Hypothetical Scenario Valuation Based on Circular Economy Design Framework," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(5), pages 4027-4053, October.
    15. Hatem Abuseta & Kolawole Iyiola & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Digital Technologies and Business Model Innovation in Turbulent Markets: Unlocking the Power of Agility and Absorptive Capacity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-28, June.
    16. Zhu, Lei & Yan, Shaocong & Geng, Lili & Liang, Xiaomeng & Xue, Yongji, 2025. "How opportunity and cognition improve family farms' low-carbon production behavior: Evidence from China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    17. Khalid Mehmood & Fauzia Jabeen & Shilpa Iyanna & Hui Zhang & Patrice Piccardi & Nagendra Singh Nehra, 2024. "Exploring drivers of behavioral willingness to reduce plastic consumption and socially responsible consumption behavior: A stimulus–organism–behavior–consequence paradigm based environmental management perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3098-3118, July.
    18. Daniela Sorea & Codrina Csesznek & Gabriela Georgeta Rățulea, 2022. "The Culture-Centered Development Potential of Communities in Făgăraș Land (Romania)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, June.
    19. Shuya Wang & Xinjia Tian & Hui Wang & Chang Liu & Zhilin Wang & Qiuhua Song, 2023. "Forecasting and Coupled Coordination Analysis of Supply and Demand for Sustainable Talent in Chinese Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    20. K. Deshika De S. Jayasekara & Darshana Rajapaksa & U. A. D. Prasanthi Gunawardena, 2024. "Impacts of Environmental Knowledge, Motives, and Behavior on Ecotourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-20, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4353-:d:1653688. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.