Abstract
Sustainable tourism is essential for tourism sector development. Environmentally responsible behaviors and behavioral intentions are important prerequisites for sustainable tourism. This research explores the behavioral intentions of university tourism students and significant factors affecting these behavioral intentions. The questionnaire survey method was applied to university students from the tourism departments of nine universities in Taiwan. A total of 390 valid questionnaires were collected. The pro-environmental behavioral intentions of the students ranged from moderate to high. Environmental knowledge positively affected behavioral intentions and positively influenced environmental sensitivity and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, environmental sensitivity and environmental responsibility exerted a full effect in mediating the relationship between environmental knowledge and behavioral intentions. Hence, increasing students’ environmental knowledge will enhance their behavioral intentions. However, by improving students’ sensitivity and responsibility, their intentions to protect the environment can be more effectively elevated. Development implications and recommendations for sustainable tourism and higher education are provided.
Highlights
As for fathers’ education levels, a senior high school education was in the majority (37.8%), followed by university (19.6%), less than junior high school (19.6%), and technical college (17.7%)
The results indicate that the environmental behavioral intentions of university tourism students range from medium to high
Environmental knowledge has a significant positive effect on environmental behavioral intentions, but this effect decreases when accounting for environmental sensitivity and environmental responsibility as mediators
Summary
The tourism sector will remain as one of the most substantial economic activities in the world, with above-average increases in arrivals at around 4% per year predicted for seven straight years [1]. The commitment made regarding the development of tourism covers (1) promoting the sustainable development of tourism; (2) reducing the impact of recreational activities; and (3) preserving natural and cultural resources that have tourism value. These pledges have become essential guidelines for global governments and businesses engaged in tourism development [4]. Sustainable tourism is an essential approach for the tourism sector to support sustainable development
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