sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 22141

Special Issue Editors

York Business School, York St. John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX , UK
Interests: sustainable tourism; protected area management; visitor impacts; ecotourism; environmental studies
Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: place branding; sustainable tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue addresses the behavioral changes of tourists toward promoting sustainability in various tourism sectors all over the world.

Tourism development has been playing an important role in the world economy, and increasing the mobility of people all over the world may contribute to not only economic development, but also environmental deterioration. Sustainable operation in the tourism industry has been promoted in the past decades. Many tourism sectors have adopted environmentally friendly approaches in operation and encouraged tourists to adopt pro-environmental behavior to facilitate environmental conservation. Research on the changing behaviors of tourists is therefore becoming prominent to understand the causes and impacts of changing tourist behavior, a topic which is definitely worth further exploration.

Local, regional, and international case studies, original quantitative and qualitative research, conceptual or theoretical approaches, and discussions focusing on the changing practices of tourists on tourism destination, product and service selection, as well as exploring potential causes for such changes can be addressed.

Possible topics to be addressed include (but are not limited to):

  • Tourist purchasing behavior;
  • Environmentally responsible behavior of tourists;
  • Environmental attitudes of tourists;
  • Sustainable tourism development;
  • Best practices for tourism sustainability;
  • Tourism planning and development;
  • Ecotourism;
  • Visitor management;
  • Marketing of sustainable tourism;
  • Case studies of sustainable tourism.

Dr. Lewis T.O. Cheung
Dr. Johnson C.S. Chan

Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmentally responsible behavior
  • sustainable tourism
  • visitor impacts
  • environmental conservation

Published Papers (6 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 1098 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Sociodemographic Characteristics and the Experience of Recreational Divers on the Preference for Diving Sites
by Ke Zhang, Anson T. H. Ma, Theresa W. L. Lam, Wei Fang and Lewis T. O. Cheung
Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 447; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010447 - 27 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Understanding the preferences of scuba divers is crucial for authorities to establish appropriate management plans and for service providers to offer a wide range of recreation opportunities to promote long-term industrial sustainability. This study categorized diving preferences into two subgroups (physical and biological) [...] Read more.
Understanding the preferences of scuba divers is crucial for authorities to establish appropriate management plans and for service providers to offer a wide range of recreation opportunities to promote long-term industrial sustainability. This study categorized diving preferences into two subgroups (physical and biological) to explore the association between diving preferences and divers’ sociodemographic characteristics, as well as diving experiences through multiple regression analysis. Questionnaire surveys were administered, with 398 completed responses successfully collected from diving hotspots in Hong Kong. Results revealed that divers’ sociodemographic status, particularly monthly salary, could affect their physical and biological preferences. Meanwhile, divers’ diving experience was found to be a significant predictor in figuring out their biological preferences. However, no relationship between diving experience and physical preference was identified in this study. These results could inform management authorities in implementing ecological and environmental protection because biological conditions are considered the most attractive motivation for divers to dive in Hong Kong. Similarly, these results may help managers better understand divers’ recreation needs based on different sociodemographic characteristics and diving experiences to create diverse recreation opportunities while enhancing their satisfaction by avoiding the negative impacts associated with identified preference attributes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 643 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Transformative Tourism Experiences on Prosocial Behaviors of College Students: Multiple Chain Mediating Effects of Dispositional Awe and Social Connectedness
by Ying Li, Xuan Wu, Yu-Jie Chu and Ya-Jun Guo
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13626; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013626 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1867
Abstract
As sustainable behaviors that contribute to the development of human society, prosocial behaviors are an important part of the moral cultivation of college students and have attracted the growing attention of higher education in recent years. It has been indicated by previous studies [...] Read more.
As sustainable behaviors that contribute to the development of human society, prosocial behaviors are an important part of the moral cultivation of college students and have attracted the growing attention of higher education in recent years. It has been indicated by previous studies that transformative tourism experiences can have a profound impact on individual prosocial behaviors. Therefore, how transformative tourism experiences play a role in strengthening college students’ prosocial behaviors has become a topic worthy of note. Based on the self-determination theory, the awe prototype theory, and the transformative tourism research, this study constructed a mechanism model of the transformative tourism experiences affecting college students’ prosocial behaviors. Four hundred and fifty-four valid questionnaires were collected through questionnaire surveys, with the structural equation model and bootstrap analysis method used for the empirical test. The results showed that transformative tourism experiences became one of the important ways to strengthen college students’ prosocial behaviors and that the multiple chain intermediary effects of awe and social connectedness between transformative tourism experiences and the college students’ prosocial behaviors were significant. This study provided a new way to cultivate college students’ prosocial behaviors and promote the sustainable development of human society, and it provided a theoretical basis for the social education function played by research tourism in higher education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2461 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Tourist Experience of Rural Homestays in Coastal Areas by Importance–Performance Analysis: A Case Study of Homestay in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, China
by Hang Ma, Siyu Huang, Mohan Wang, Chungshing Chan and Xiaoyu Lin
Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6447; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116447 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3549
Abstract
In recent years, the rural homestay has developed rapidly against the background of rural-revitalization policies. However, in early 2020, COVID-19 broke out in China, and the homestay industry was faced with a great challenge. It was difficult for self-employed homestays to resist the [...] Read more.
In recent years, the rural homestay has developed rapidly against the background of rural-revitalization policies. However, in early 2020, COVID-19 broke out in China, and the homestay industry was faced with a great challenge. It was difficult for self-employed homestays to resist the risks of the pandemic. As a result, defective operation and business failure occurred in some regions. However, rural homestays with a background in the brand, chain and cluster development mode persisted in the market with a diversity of operation principles. This paper tries to set up an evaluation system for understanding the occupancy needs of tourists, in order to improve the ability of rural homestays to resist risks. The article offers a methodology for assessing the tourist experience of rural homestays in coastal areas, with homestays in Dapeng New District of Shenzhen taken as the research objectives. Then, the evaluation system of rural homestays is set up from the perspective of tourist experience. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey and interviews of operators, this paper proposes the tourist experience–importance analysis in Jiaochangwei and Xichong by the importance–performance analysis (IPA) method. Finally, it suggests policy recommendations that can resist high risk based on tourist experience, for the sustainable development of rural homestays in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 513 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Role of Tourists: Responsible Behavior Triggered by the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Sarah Eichelberger, Manuela Heigl, Mike Peters and Birgit Pikkemaat
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5774; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115774 - 21 May 2021
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 7553
Abstract
Responsible tourism implies that all actors involved in tourism take responsibility for their actions. The concept of responsible tourism has been extensively addressed in tourism research and practice. However, studies analyzing the tourists’ contribution to responsible tourism have been neglected. Considering that tourists [...] Read more.
Responsible tourism implies that all actors involved in tourism take responsibility for their actions. The concept of responsible tourism has been extensively addressed in tourism research and practice. However, studies analyzing the tourists’ contribution to responsible tourism have been neglected. Considering that tourists have the potential to contribute to economic, environmental socio-cultural, and institutional sustainability, this study focuses on the role tourists can play in responsible tourism. It also examines how responsible behavior among tourists has been triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, drawing on a planned behavior perspective by concentrating on the tourist contribution to sustainable tourism, responsible tourism behavior is investigated by means of 19 semi-structured interviews. The study found that tourists are not only sensitive to sustainability but that they also behave responsibly both on site and in their travel choices. At the same time, tourists pass the buck to suppliers and providers by requesting rules, information and opportunities for responsible tourism to be created. In this regard, implications for theory and practice can be derived by informing suppliers and providers about their requested responsibilities, as well as by adding a crisis perspective to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2269 KiB  
Article
The Nexus between Team Culture, Innovative Work Behaviour and Tacit Knowledge Sharing: Theory and Evidence
by Cem Işık, Ekrem Aydın, Tarik Dogru, Abdul Rehman, Rafael Alvarado, Munir Ahmad and Muhammad Irfan
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13084333 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3666
Abstract
Tacit knowledge sharing is an essential intellectual capital for frontline employees in hotel enterprises. While the relationship of knowledge sharing with team culture (TC) and innovative work behavior (IWB) was investigated in the extant literature, little is known about the extent to which [...] Read more.
Tacit knowledge sharing is an essential intellectual capital for frontline employees in hotel enterprises. While the relationship of knowledge sharing with team culture (TC) and innovative work behavior (IWB) was investigated in the extant literature, little is known about the extent to which tacit knowledge sharing affects TC and IWB. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to investigate the role of tacit knowledge sharing in the relationship between TC and IWB. For this purpose, data were gathered from 360 department managers of Turkish 4–5 star hotels. The results were analyzed utilizing Smart PLS 3 using bootstrapping to determine the level of significance of the relationships between tacit knowledge sharing, TC and IWB. The results show statistically significant relationships between tacit knowledge sharing, TC and IWB. Moreover, tacit knowledge sharing has a mediating role in the relationship between team culture and innovative work behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 33314 KiB  
Article
Mitigating the Impact of Touristification on the Psychological Carrying Capacity of Residents
by Yoonku Kwon, Jihyun Kim, Jiyoung Kim and Chan Park
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2737; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052737 - 03 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
This study explores the impact of touristification on the residents of the Seochon and Bukchon areas of Seoul, Korea. Touristification refers to changing an urban space to promote tourism; however, this process displaces the original residents and affects the commercial and social fabric [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of touristification on the residents of the Seochon and Bukchon areas of Seoul, Korea. Touristification refers to changing an urban space to promote tourism; however, this process displaces the original residents and affects the commercial and social fabric of neighborhoods. We examine the psychological carrying capacity of local residents to adapt to touristification, and present ways to mitigate the negative effects of touristification. First, a semantic differential scale was used to elicit adjectives to assess the carrying capacity of residents to adapt. This was correlated with a classification of the residents’ awareness of the changes. Second, a space improvement index was developed to verify whether an improvement in the physical space will change the psychological carrying capacity of residents. A space improvement simulation indicated the changes in carrying capacity based on the improvement of space. Finally, we established the key factors for each space type and proposed strategies to mitigate the impact of touristification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changing Tourist Behaviors for Sustainability)
Back to TopTop