Decoding Green Sports Tourism: How Environmental Psychology and the Theory of Planned Behavior Shape Eco-Friendly Intentions Among Active Sports Tourists

This study pursued three objectives: (1) to examine whether perceived knowledge about the environment affects attitudes and subjective norms; (2) to estimate, within the theory of planned behavior, the effects of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls on eco-friendly behavioral intentions; and (3) to explore the moderating role of biospheric values in these associations within environmental psychology. Data were obtained from surfing and water sports tourists using a convenience sampling approach between September 1 and 7, 2022. Relationships among the variables were examined via structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation, and moderation analyses were conducted using Jamovi statistical software. The results indicated that perceived knowledge significantly influenced both attitudes and subjective norms. Moreover, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls significantly predicted eco-friendly behavioral intentions. Finally, biospheric values moderated the relationships between attitudes and eco-friendly behavioral intentions, between subjective norms and eco-friendly behavioral intentions, and between perceived behavioral controls and eco-friendly behavioral intentions.