From social norms to pro-environmental behavior: The role of destination social responsibility for families traveling with children

Abstract

Sustainable business practices are vital for tourist destinations because they help tackle social and environmental challenges while addressing profit-oriented concerns. The purpose of this study was to explore pro-environmental behaviors in families. The values-identity-personal norm model was combined with the concept of destination social responsibility via normative influences. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were applied in a mixed-methods approach. The findings confirm the values-identity-personal norm model's normative path to family pro-environmental behavior. The research contributes to theory and practice by introducing two new destination social responsibility perspectives: descriptive and injunctive. Based on social media normative influences on family endorsement of destination social responsibility messages, the analysis showed a significant direct effect of descriptive destination social responsibility and injunctive destination social responsibility on family personal norms. However, the mediating effect of family personal norms on family pro-environmental behavior was significant only for descriptive destination social responsibility. Perceived destination social responsibility activities during family vacations had a nonsignificant effect on family personal norms and family pro-environmental behavior. The fsQCA highlights multiple scenarios leading to family pro-environmental behavior. The findings are valuable for helping destination management organizations (DMOs) develop social marketing strategies for family ecotourism.