The Effect of Tourism Quality Perception on the Sport Tourists’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior with the Mediating Role of Attachment to Place

Valinezhad Khandan, Afsaneh; Dehghanpouri, Houriyeh; Bahrololoum, Hassan

doi:10.22059/jsm.2023.352570.3073

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

10.22059/jsm.2023.352570.3073

Abstract

Introduction: Drawn public attention to the negative impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the quality of tourism perception on the environmentally responsible behavior of sports tourists with the mediating role of attachment to the place.
Methods: This research is descriptive and correlational. The statistical population consisted of all sports tourists in the Alangdareh Forest Park of Gorgan in 2021. The data collection tools were the standard questionnaires of understanding the quality of tourism by Yin et al. (2021), environmentally responsible behavior by Yin et al. (2021) and place attachment by Ramkissoon et al. (2013). The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed. Structural equation modeling including confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were used to analyze the data. The software used for data analysis were AMOS23 and SPSS23.
Results: The results showed that the quality of tourism perception has a significant effect on the environmentally responsible behavior of sports tourists; the quality of tourism perception has a significant effect on attachment to the place of sports tourists; Attachment to the place has a significant effect on the environmentally responsible behavior of sports tourists and attachment to the place mediates the effect of understanding the quality of tourism on the environmentally responsible behavior of sports tourists.
Conclusion: One of the important messages of the current research is that attachment to a place is a significant mediator between understanding the quality of tourism and responsible environmental behavior. The results of the current research emphasize active interaction with sports tourists, good management, supporting biodiversity and encouraging responsible and sustainable consumption in order to strengthen tourists' attachment to the place and environmentally responsible behaviors.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Sport Management

References

Abaszadeh, m., Banifatemeh, H., Alizadehaghdam, M.B., Alavi, L. (2016). Study of Intervening Effect of Environmental Responsible Attitude on the Relationship of between Place Attachment and Environmental Responsible Behavior, 2(27), 61-80. (In Persian). https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_20491.html?lang=en.

Augustyn, M. M., & Seakhoa-King, A. (2005). Is the Servqual scale an adequate measure of quality in leisure, tourism and hospitality?. In Advances in Hospitality and Leisure. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.‏ Bingley, 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1745-3542(04)01001-X

Bahmanpour, Homan. (2014). Sports and environment for athletes and sports managers. Office of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. 1-167. (In Persian).

Blankenberg, A.-K., & Alhusen, H. (2018). On the determinants of pro-environmental behavior-a guide for further investigations. (5), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3186089

Chen, Y. S., Lin, Y. H., & Wu, Y. J. (2020). How personality affects environmentally responsible behaviour through attitudes towards activities and environmental concern: Evidence from a national park in Taiwan. Leisure Studies, 39(6), 825-843.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1778773

Cheng, T. E., Li, S., Zhang, H., & Cao, M. (2021). Examining the antecedents of environmentally responsible behaviour: Relationships among service quality, place attachment and environmentally responsible behaviour. Sustainability, 13(18), 10297.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810297

Cheng, T. M., & Wu, H. C. (2015). How do environmental knowledge, environmental sensitivity, and place attachment affect environmentally responsible behavior? An integrated approach for sustainable island tourism. Journal of Sustainable tourism, 23(4), 557-576. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.965177

Cheng, T. M., C. Wu, H., & Huang, L. M. (2013). The influence of place attachment on the relationship between destination attractiveness and environmentally responsible behavior for island tourism in Penghu, Taiwan. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(8), 1166-1187.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.750329

Cheung, L. T., Ma, A. T., Lam, T. W., Chow, A. S., Fok, L., & Cheang, C. C. (2020). Predictors of the environmentally responsible behaviour of participants: An empirical investigation of interpretative dolphin-watching tours. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23, e01153.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01153

Chi, N.T.K. (2022). Environmentally responsible behaviour in outdoor recreation: the moderating impact of COVID-19 related risk perception. Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-09-2021-0234

Chiu, Y. T. H., Lee, W. I., & Chen, T. H. (2014). Environmentally responsible behavior in ecotourism: Exploring the role of destination image and value perception. Asia pacific journal of tourism Research, 19(8), 876-889. ‌https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2013.818048

Chow, A. S., Ma, A. T., Wong, G. K., Lam, T. W., & Cheung, L. T. (2019). The impacts of place attachment on environmentally responsible behavioral intention and satisfaction of Chinese nature-based tourists. Sustainability, 11(20), 5585.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205585

Dedeoğlu, B. B. (2019). Shaping tourists' destination quality perception and loyalty through destination country image: The importance of involvement and perceived value. Tourism Management Perspectives, 29, 105-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.11.006‌

Devine-Wright, P., & Howes, Y. (2010). Disruption to place attachment and the protection of restorative environments: A wind energy case study. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(3), 271-280.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.008

Dlamini, S., Tesfamichael, S. G., & Mokhele, T. (2021). Socio-demographic determinants of environmental attitudes, perceptions, place attachment, and environmentally responsible behaviour in Gauteng province, South Africa. Scientific African, 12, e00772.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00772

Ekhtiari, N., Yadi, H., & Shabanimoghadam, K. (2018). Determining the model of effective factors on the development of environment culture in sport. Applied Research in Sport Management, 7(2), 57-67. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.30473/arsm.2018.5090

Eydi, H. Abbasi, H. Almasi, S. (2019). Investigating the mediating role of place attachment in the relationship between place satisfaction and behavioral goals (Case study: Volleyball League's spectators). Communication management in sports media. 6 (23), 51-66. (In Persian). https://en.civilica.com/doc/977622/

Gosling, E., & Williams, K. J. (2010). Connectedness to nature, place attachment and conservation behaviour: Testing connectedness theory among farmers. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(3), 298-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.005

Gupta, A., Arora, N., Sharma, R., & Mishra, A. (2021). Determinants of Tourists’ Site-Specific Environmentally Responsible Behavior: An Eco-Sensitive Zone Perspective. Journal of Travel Research, 64(2), 1-20. 00472875211030328.‏

Hadafi, F & Sarafi Nik, A. (2021). Study of the relationship between environmental perception and attachment to place and their effect on pro-environmental behaviors. Geographical Research of Urban Planning. (In Persian). 10.22059/JURBANGEO.2022.332929.1605.

Halpenny, E. A. (2010). Pro-environmental behaviours and park visitors: The effect of place attachment. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(4), 409-421.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.006

Hernández, B., Hidalgo, M. C., Salazar-Laplace, M. E., & Hess, S. (2007). Place attachment and place identity in natives and non-natives. Journal of environmental psychology, 27(4), 310-319.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.06.003

Hernandez, B., M. C. Hidalgo, & C. Ruiz. (2013). Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of Research on Place Attachment. In Place Attachment: Advances in Theory, Methods and Applications, edited by L. C. Manzo and P. Devine-Wright, 125–37. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203757765

Hidalgo, M. C., & Hernandez, B. (2001). Place attachment: Conceptual and empirical questions. Journal of environmental psychology, 21(3), 273-281.‏ https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.2001.0221

Imran, S., Alam, K., & Beaumont, N. (2014). Environmental orientations and environmental behaviour: Perceptions of protected area tourism stakeholders. Tourism management, 40, 290-299.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.07.003

Istiana, R., Sunardi, O., Herlani, F., Ichsan, I. Z., Rogayan Jr, D. V., Rahman, M. M., ... & Arif, W. P. (2020). Environmentally Responsible Behavior and naturalist intelligence: Biology Learning to Support Sustainability. Biosfer: Jurnal Tadris Biologi, 11(2), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.24042/biosfer.v11i2.7626‌

Karimi, F. (2021). Alangdere Forest Park in Gorgan; Dream destination of nature lovers. The glory of walking on a wooden road with the beautiful leaves of Al-Nagdere. Published: 16 December 2020 Updated: 30 May 2021. Alibaba Tourism Magazine. (In Persian). https://www.alibaba.ir/mag/alangdareh-park/

Kim, S. K., Park, J. A., & Kim, W. (2016). The mediating effect of destination image on the relationship between spectator satisfaction and behavioral intentions at an international sporting event. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 21(3), 273-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2015.1048262

Kline, P. (2014). An easy guide to factor analysis. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315788135

Koc, E. (2003). Research note: the role and potential of travel agency staff as a marketing communications tool. Tourism Analysis, 8(1), 105-111.‏ https://doi.org/10.3727/108354203108750139

Lalicic, L., & Garaus, M. (2022). Tourism-Induced Place Change: The Role of Place Attachment, Emotions, and Tourism Concern in Predicting Supportive or Oppositional Behavioral Responses. Journal of Travel Research, 61(1), 202-213.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520967753

Lee, T. H. (2011). How recreation involvement, place attachment and conservation commitment affect environmentally responsible behavior. Journal of Sustainable tourism, 19(7), 895-915.‌ https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.570345

Lee, T. H., Jan, F. H., & Yang, C. C. (2013). Conceptualizing and measuring environmentally responsible behaviors from the perspective of community-based tourists. Tourism Management, 36, 454-468.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2012.09.012

Lee, W. H., & Moscardo, G. (2005). Understanding the impact of ecotourism resort experiences on tourists’ environmental attitudes and behavioural intentions. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 13(6), 546–565. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580508668581.

Motaghed, M & Sajjadzadeh, H. (2021). The role of environmental quality on attachment to place in urban spaces (Case study: Central Square of Hamadan). Human Geography, 53 (2), 599-616. (In Persian). file:///C:/Users/top/Downloads/45814000212.pdf

Najvan, Sh., & Ranjbar, M. (2017). Conceptual design of nature parks as tourism facilities and formulation of their implementation criteria. Scientific & Research Journals Management System, 14(55), 97-112. (In Persian). https://journals.srbiau.ac.ir/article_12180.html

Nikandish, A., Dashti, S., & Sabzghabaei, Gh.R. (2018). The Assessment of Environmental Risks for Sustainable Development in National Parks and Protected Areas (Case Study: Dez National Park and Protected Area). Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazards, 8(1), 43-63. (In Persian). https://geoeh.um.ac.ir/article_33033.html?lang=en\

Nouri, Z. (2015). Investigating the Factors Affecting the Quality of Services of Asia Insurance Company Department of Insurance Management, Faculty of Islamic Azad Management, Tehran. (In Persian).

Parsajo, Sh., & Nasehi, F. (2018). The role of sustainable development of tourism in protected areas (case study: Sablan region in Ardabil province). Journal of Geographical Sciences, 14(29), 18-30. (In Persian). https://geographic.mashhad.iau.ir/article_669664.html

Poudel, S., & Nyaupane, G. P. (2017). Understanding environmentally responsible behaviour of ecotourists: The Reasoned Action Approach. Tourism Planning & Development, 14(3), 337-352.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2016.1221851.

Ramkissoon, H., & Mavondo, F. (2014). Proenvironmental behavior: The link between place attachment and place satisfaction. Tourism Analysis, 19(6), 673-688.‏ https://doi.org/10.3727/108354214X14146846679286

Ramkissoon, H., Smith, L. D. G., & Weiler, B. (2013). Testing the dimensionality of place attachment and its relationships with place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviours: A structural equation modelling approach. Tourism Management, 36, 552–566. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.tourman.2012.09.003

Ramkissoon, H., Weiler, B., & Smith, L. D. G. (2012). Place attachment and pro-environmental behaviour in national parks: The development of a conceptual framework. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(2), 257-276.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.602194

Reid, L., Sutton, P., & Hunter, C. (2010). Theorizing the meso level: the household as a crucible of pro-environmental behaviour. Progress in human geography, 34(3), 309-327.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132509346994

‌Reimann, M., Lamp, M. L., & Palang, H. (2011). Tourism impacts and local communities in Estonian national parks. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 11(sup1), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2011.638206

Scannell, L., & Gifford, R. (2010). The relations between natural and civic place attachment and pro-environmental behavior. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(3), 289-297.‌ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.010

Schultz, P. W., Shriver, C., Tabanico, J. J., & Khazian, A. M. (2004). Implicit connections with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24(1), 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272- 4944(03)00022-7

Soleimani, A., & Nohegar, A. (2019). The Intervened effect of place attachment on the relationship between community attachment and environmental behaviors (case study: Tajrish neighborhood). Environmental Science, 17(3), 75-80. (In Persian). https://envs.sbu.ac.ir/article_98091.html?lang=en

Štreimikienė, D. (2015). The main drivers of environmentally responsible behaviour in Lithuanian households. Amfiteatru economic, 17(40); 1023-1035.‏ https://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2015~1538136166170/

Su, L., Hsu, M. K., & Boostrom Jr, R. E. (2020). From recreation to responsibility: Increasing environmentally responsible behavior in tourism. Journal of Business Research, 109, 557-573.‌ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.12.055