Sustainability of nature walking trails: predicting walking tourists’ engagement in pro-environmental behaviors

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to understand how tourists’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB) can be promoted in natural walking trails. Specifically, this study examined the links among place attachment, place-specific PEB, and general PEB in everyday life, and the effects of power on PEB. Using data collected from 273 walking tourists, the results of structural equation modeling revealed place identity, nature bonding, social bonding, and general PEB directly affecting place-specific PEB. In addition, power was found to have a direct effect on only general PEB. These results demonstrate the importance of focusing affective strategies and providing effective infrastructure to promote tourists’ environmental practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Place attachment‌
• place-specific pro-environmental behavior
• general pro-environmental behavior
• power
• walking tourists
• walking trails

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).