Personal norms and pro-environmental binning behaviour of visitors in national parks: The development of a conceptual framework
Abstract
National park tourism is an increasing trend worldwide. Understanding national park visitors’ pro-environmental behaviour is crucial as sustainability is a vital issue in the nature-based tourism industry. The primary objective of this study is to develop a conceptual model for explaining low-cost pro-environmental behaviour (i.e. behavioural choices involving low personal costs); more specifically, binning behaviour in a national park context. In this sense, we delineate low-cost pro-environmental behaviour (i.e. bin use) from high-cost forms of pro-environmental behaviour (e.g. picking up other litter) and further focus on a specific site (i.e. a national park). This study considers pro-environmental binning behaviour as a socially responsible behaviour (e.g. helping others) which is perceived more likely to be morally grounded. By considering binning behaviour as a pro-environmental personal norm and acknowledging it as a potential mediator between attitude, social norms, awareness of consequences, perceived behavioural control, and pro-environmental binning intention, this study develops a conceptual model of pro-environmental binning behaviour. The research’s theoretical contributions, its restrictions and practical implications for national parks are further discussed.
RAS ID
28813
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2019
School
School of Business and Law
Copyright
subscription content
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Comments
Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., & Dowling, R. (2019). Personal norms and pro-environmental binning behaviour of visitors in national parks: The development of a conceptual framework. Tourism Recreation Research, 44(2) 163-177. Available here