Digital nudging for sustainable tourist behavior in new media

Abstract

Digital nudging, a behavioral intervention blending the philosophy of nudging from behavioral economics with user interface design principles in information systems, demonstrates the potential to promote sustainability. However, its application in the tourism industry is still in its infancy. This article explores the humanistic aspect of interface design and conceptualizes the user interface in tourism as a “dynamic event-space” comprising three interactive layers: the information layer, participation layer, and immersion layer. Moreover, the study evaluates the current digital nudge design and proposes six promising design elements for future applications. The research expands digital nudging strategies for tourism researchers and practitioners, advocating intelligent, collaborative, and situational design patterns to foster sustainable tourist behaviors in the era of new media.