The Effect of Tourist Experience on Environmentally Responsible Behavior: The Mediating Role of Environmental Sensitivity

Üzeyir Kement; Murat Göral; Gül Erkol Bayram; Marco Valeri; Safia Ujudi MCHAVU

doi:10.34624/rtd.v46i0.32760

Authors

Üzeyir Kement PhD, Associate Professor, Tourism Faculty, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Ordu University, 52200 Altınordu, Ordu, Turkey.
Murat Göral
Gül Erkol Bayram PhD, Associate Professor, Sinop University, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dpeartment of Tour Guiding, Osmaniye Village, 57000, Sinop, Turkey
Marco Valeri
Safia Ujudi MCHAVU Postgraduate, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Social Sciences Enstitute, Tourism Administration, Eskişehir, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34624/rtd.v46i0.32760

Keywords:

Tourist experience, environmentally responsible behavior, environmental sensitivity, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of the tourist experience on environmentally responsible behavior and the mediating role of environmental sensitivity. The study was conducted on tourists visiting Yoroz Urban Forest in Ordu, Turkiye. 279 tourists filled face to face to questionnaire between May and October 2021. The convenience sampling method was used to collect data from the sample group. Tourist experience was tested in the form of two sub-factors: Resource & Environmental Experience and Facility Management Experience. SmartPLS program was used for data analysis. Since the scales are reflective, the covariance-based structural equation model (CBSEM) method was used. According to the result resource & environmental experience, facility management experience, and environmental sensitivity had positively and significantly effect on environmentally responsible behavior. In addition, environmental sensitivity has a positive mediation effect between tourism experience and environmentally responsible behavior. However, the mediation effect of environmental sensitivity is partial.