The role of eco-attraction in the intention to conduct low-carbon actions: a study of visitor behavior in urban forests

IF 3 Q2 HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM International Journal of Tourism Cities Pub Date : 2024-03-25 DOI:10.1108/ijtc-07-2023-0138
Fitri Rahmafitria, Regan Leonardus Kaswanto
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The main objective of this research is to examine the effects of the ecological attractiveness of urban forests on the pro-environmental behavior of visitors by exploring motivation, ecological experience, perceived value and knowledge as mediators. Moreover, whether the nature of the urban forest and facilities attract visitors simultaneously is also studied.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>Data were collected from 615 respondents who visited three urban forests in Bandung, the second-most populous city in Indonesia, by five-point Likert questionnaires. As an analytical tool, SEM PLS was applied to establish the effect of the ecological performance of the urban forest on the increase in environmentally conscious behavior among urban forest visitors.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>The findings demonstrate that the attractiveness of an urban forest affects the growth of environmentally responsible behaviors. 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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

One of the crucial elements of addressing global climate challenges through urban tourism is the continuing existence of urban forests. The reasoning is that the ecological attraction of urban forests can impact visitors’ intention to conduct pro-environmental behavior, including low-carbon actions. Thus, more visitors to urban forests will positively affect enhancing the quality of the urban environment. However, the extent to which ecological attraction can influence pro-environmental behavior warrants further investigation due to the complexity of psychosocial factors that impact behavioral intention. The main objective of this research is to examine the effects of the ecological attractiveness of urban forests on the pro-environmental behavior of visitors by exploring motivation, ecological experience, perceived value and knowledge as mediators. Moreover, whether the nature of the urban forest and facilities attract visitors simultaneously is also studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 615 respondents who visited three urban forests in Bandung, the second-most populous city in Indonesia, by five-point Likert questionnaires. As an analytical tool, SEM PLS was applied to establish the effect of the ecological performance of the urban forest on the increase in environmentally conscious behavior among urban forest visitors.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the attractiveness of an urban forest affects the growth of environmentally responsible behaviors. Nonetheless, the attractiveness of urban forests is dictated more by their infrastructure than their ecological function. On the contrary, the visitors’ knowledge level can improve their motivation, environmental experience and perceived environmental value. These findings show the significance of developing educational programs with an emphasis on the experience of the visitors so that their ecological performance can contribute to improved low-carbon behavior. In conclusion, this work contributes to the management of sustainable urban tourism.

Research limitations/implications

This work also has some limitations. First, the medium R-square on intention behavior to low-carbon action suggests investigating other influential factors to produce a more robust conscious behavior. Mkono and Hughes (2020) mention that many complex factors that cause positive intention do not necessarily lead to environmental action. Thus, many psychosocial variables need to be explored in different models. Second, the convenient sampling used here does not represent the whole population, making generalization difficult. Thus, further work needs to apply more rigorous sampling techniques to validate the findings. Further investigations may also need to be conducted in other urban forests in another Asian country with a similar and different social context for benchmarking, as this study found that the type of attractive urban forest design is a more dense forest, which differs from other studies based in Europe. Exploring more influencing behavioral factors of pro-environmental action in the model is also suggested. Thus, we could contribute more to support recreational activities in urban forests.

Practical implications

As an implication for planning an urban forest to increase its recreational function, the authors illustrate the importance of producing educational programs. Although the improved knowledge of visitors has been shown to strengthen their commitment to perform pro-environmental actions, the mediating role of motivation, experience and perceived value reveals that some activities are required to achieve visitor motivation to actual behavior. Consequently, designing an urban forest requires not only the enhancement of eco-attractions and artificial elements for the convenience of visitors but also the development of an environmental education program that can improve visitors’ environmental experience and perception of ecological value. The designed educational program may use an experiential education approach incorporating objective knowledge of Earth’s current state. The urban forest education program must encourage visitors’ connection and participation with nature. Moreover, knowledge and information about Earth’s environmental quality can increase visitors’ perceived value, ensuring that their activities in the urban forest contribute to improved health, environmental quality and social environment. Thus, with well-managed and provided education, they are encouraged to adopt low-carbon action because it complements their contribution to a better quality environment.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution of this research is generated through the role of urban forest attractiveness in the intention to conduct low-carbon action, which influences solutions to existing urban environmental problems. This work exhibits that both ecological attractiveness and attractiveness of artificial elements in urban forests can attract visitors and subsequently boost their outdoor recreation motivation, ecological experience and perceived value and then turn them to boost their intention to conduct low-carbon action. The physical characteristics of a site are behavioral stimuli that can increase a person’s motivation, experience and perception of the value of the environment, thereby increasing their intention to engage in low-carbon actions. This environment behavioral construction is fundamental in understanding that urban forests offer ecological benefits and influence the social quality of urban communities. Nevertheless, without visitor activity, urban forests are merely physical entities that become increasingly demanding to maintain. Due to this, an urban forest that is socially active and has an influence on promoting environmentally conscious behavior is needed, and its presence is becoming ever more crucial. This work shows the significance of integrating psychosocial approaches into managing tourism in urban forests.

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生态吸引力在低碳行动意向中的作用:城市森林游客行为研究
目的 通过城市旅游应对全球气候挑战的关键因素之一是城市森林的持续存在。理由是城市森林的生态吸引力会影响游客的环保行为意愿,包括低碳行动。因此,更多的城市森林游客将对提高城市环境质量产生积极影响。然而,由于影响行为意向的社会心理因素的复杂性,生态吸引力能在多大程度上影响亲环境行为还有待进一步研究。本研究的主要目的是通过探讨动机、生态体验、感知价值和知识作为中介因素,研究城市森林的生态吸引力对游客亲环境行为的影响。此外,还研究了城市森林的性质和设施是否能同时吸引游客。设计/方法/途径通过五点李克特问卷调查,收集了 615 名参观了万隆(印度尼西亚人口第二大城市)三个城市森林的受访者的数据。结果研究结果表明,城市森林的吸引力会影响环保行为的增长。然而,城市森林的吸引力更多地取决于其基础设施而非生态功能。相反,游客的知识水平可以提高他们的积极性、环境体验和感知环境价值。这些研究结果表明,制定注重游客体验的教育计划具有重要意义,这样游客的生态表现就能促进低碳行为的改善。总之,这项工作有助于可持续城市旅游业的管理。首先,低碳行动意向行为的 R 方数中等,建议调查其他影响因素,以产生更强大的自觉行为。Mkono 和 Hughes(2020 年)提到,许多导致积极意向的复杂因素并不一定会导致环保行动。因此,需要在不同的模型中探讨许多社会心理变量。其次,本文所采用的方便取样并不能代表整个人群,因此很难进行推广。因此,进一步的工作需要采用更严格的抽样技术来验证研究结果。由于本研究发现,具有吸引力的城市森林设计类型是更加茂密的森林,这与其他基于欧洲的研究不同,因此可能还需要在其他亚洲国家的其他具有相似和不同社会背景的城市森林中开展进一步的调查,以作为基准。我们还建议在模型中探索更多影响环保行动的行为因素。实践意义对于规划城市森林以增加其休闲功能,作者说明了制定教育计划的重要性。虽然游客知识的提高已被证明会加强他们对环保行动的承诺,但动机、经验和感知价值的中介作用表明,要实现游客的实际行为动机,还需要开展一些活动。因此,设计城市森林不仅需要增强生态吸引力和人工要素,方便游客,还需要制定环境教育计划,改善游客的环境体验和对生态价值的感知。所设计的教育计划可采用体验式教育方法,将有关地球现状的客观知识融入其中。城市森林教育计划必须鼓励游客与自然建立联系并参与其中。此外,有关地球环境质量的知识和信息可以提高游客的感知价值,确保他们在城市森林中的活动有助于改善健康、环境质量和社会环境。原创性/价值:本研究的理论贡献在于城市森林的吸引力在低碳行动意向中的作用,而低碳行动意向会影响现有城市环境问题的解决方案。
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来源期刊
International Journal of Tourism Cities
International Journal of Tourism Cities HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM-
CiteScore
5.90
自引率
11.50%
发文量
47
期刊介绍: A peer-reviewed journal, the International Journal of Tourism Cities provides an international forum for the critical study of urban tourism and tourism cities. The journal aims to be inter-disciplinary in its appreciation of tourism cities and tourism in urban areas, and welcomes original, theoretically-informed articles from those involved in the planning, management or marketing of tourism in city destination or places adjoining urban areas. Urban tourism and travel cover many disciplines and impinge on numerous aspects of daily life within cities. Moreover, they play a key role in domestic and international tourism in most countries, and cities often function as key travel gateways and tourism destinations. The International Journal of Tourism Cities contents include primary research articles, expert discussions on current urban tourism issues, and tourism city case studies. Articles are selected that are relevant to both academics and practitioners. The journal particularly encourages contributions on contemporary topics and issues in urban tourism including smart cities and tourism, environmental impact and sustainable tourism development in cities, citizen and stakeholder involvement in tourism, city destination governance, and the development of policies and standards for city tourism development. The International Journal of Tourism Cities has four distinct purposes: To encourage greater research and scholarship related to tourism in urban settings. To stimulate more interdisciplinary research on tourism in cities, particularly the integration of tourism and urban studies theories and principles. To generate more research studies on tourism at the edge of cities, where urban and rural areas converge. To create more literature on best practices in city tourism worldwide through in-depth analyses and the production of exemplary case studies.
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