Understanding tourists' environmentally responsible behaviour: environmental citizenship behaviour as an antecedent and trust in destination's local government as a moderator

Abstract

Purpose Tourists' environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB) is very important for the environmental sustainability of popular tourist destinations. The main purpose of this research paper is to explore the relationship between environmental citizenship behaviour (ECB) and trust in local government with ERB. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model was proposed and tested. Data were collected from domestic tourists (n = 555) visiting Antalya, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Findings The results show that all dimensions of ECB (helping, engagement and initiatives) have a positive effect on the formation of ERB among domestic tourists. The results also show that trust in the local government of the destination has a moderating effect on the relationship between the two dimensions of ECB (engagement and initiatives) and ERB. The helping dimension of ECB has the highest positive impact factor on ERB. The results provide a comprehensive framework for further research. The proposed model is strongly supported by the findings. Practical implications Local policy makers can focus on how to increase the environmental motivation of domestic tourists. Environmentally friendly projects can be developed to attract their attention. This will ensure that they take more responsibility for the environment at the destination. Originality/value Understanding the potential impact of local government on tourist behaviour is crucial for sustainability. However, there are few studies that directly examine the moderating effect of trust in local government on the relationship between ECB and ERB. This study addresses this gap and makes novel contributions to the relevant literature.