https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7567-5040
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Abstract
A lack of credibility in the tourism sector is becoming a social and environmental concern. This article argues that destination source credibility as a destination-level stimulus can have significant influences on tourist environmentally responsible behavior (TERB). Based on the stimulus-organism-response theory, this article developed an integrated model of the relationship between destination source credibility and TERB, with destination image (cognitive and affective) and place attachment as mediators. Three sets of survey data were collected at a Chinese national wetland park (N = 451), a world heritage cultural landscape site (N = 453), and a world cultural heritage site (N = 450). The serial multiple mediation model was tested through combining bootstrapping and Bayesian approaches. Results indicated that destination source credibility enhanced tourists’ cognitive and affective image, place attachment, and TERB. In addition, the effect of destination source credibility on TERB was partially and sequentially mediated by (cognitive and then affective) destination image and place attachment, among which place attachment emerged as the most powerful mediator. Robustness of these findings was confirmed across different destination types. Theoretical contribution and practical implication for sustainable destination management are discussed.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 We would like to thank the anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.
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Notes on contributors
Hongliang Qiu
Hongliang Qiu, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean of the School of Business Administration, Tourism College of Zhejiang, China. He was selected as “Zhejiang Young Tourism Expert”, a tourism top talent cultivation project in 2019. His key research interests include tourist behavior and pro-environmental behavior.
Xiongzhi Wang
Xiongzhi Wang is a PhD candidate at School of Communication and Arts, the University of Queensland, Australia. He is interested in environmental psychology, sustainable tourism, and environmental communication research.
Mao-Ying Wu
Mao-Ying Wu, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Tourism, at School of Management, Zhejiang University, China. She gained her Ph.D degree at James Cook University, Australia. She is interested in the well-being of tourism communities, tourists in emerging markets, and tourist-host interaction in cross cultural contexts.
Wei Wei
Wei Wei, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, U.S.A. She received her Ph.D. degree and Master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University, U.S.A. Her research interests include consumer behavior, psychology, and experience in hospitality and tourism.
Alastair M. Morrison
Alastair M. Morrison, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Department of Marketing, Events and Tourism, Business School at the University of Greenwich in London, UK. He has published approximately 300 academic articles and conference proceedings, as well as over 50 research monographs related to marketing and tourism. His research interests include tourism destination management, marketing and branding, sustainable tourism, tourism cities, sharing economy and crisis management.
Catherine Kelly
Catherine Kelly, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing, Events and Tourism, Business School at the University of Greenwich in London, UK. She has more than 17 years’ experience as an academic and consultant in the cultural, heritage and tourism sector. She has worked in the UK, Ireland and United States and held various roles in academia from management, course development, to research, consultancy and lecturing.