A lack of credibility in the tourism sector is becoming a social and environmental concern.This article argues that destination source credibility as a destination-level stimulus can have significant influences on tourist environmentally responsible behavior (TERB). Based on the stimulus-organism-response theory, this paper developed an integrated model of the relationship between destination source credibility and TERB, with destination image (cognitive and affective) and place attachment as mediators. Three sets of survey data were collected at a Chinese national wetland park (N=451), a world heritage cultural landscape site (N=453), and a world cultural heritage site (N=450). The serial multiple mediation model was tested through combining bootstrapping and Bayesian approaches. Results indicated that destination source credibility enhanced tourists' cognitive and affective image, place attachment, and TERB. In addition, the effect of destination source credibility on TERB was partially and sequentially mediated by (cognitive and then affective) destination image and place attachment, among which place attachment emerged as the most powerful mediator.Robustness of these findings was confirmed across different destination types. Theoretical contribution and practical implication for sustainable destination management are discussed.
Although cultivating tourist pro-environmental behavioral intentions (TPEBI) has been emphasized, the effect of destination unique fascination on TPEBI is unknown. Applying the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the cognition-affect-behavior (CAB) model, this research develops an integrated theoretical framework to predict TPEBI. The results suggested that: (1) attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, destination unique fascination and tourist delight directly influence TPEBI; (2) tourist delight positively meditates the links between destination unique fascination and TPEBI; (3) the integrated model had better explanation power than either TPB or CAB models; and (4) a cross-validation method of rural and wetland cases demonstrated support for the results. This study enriches the extant studies of pro-environmental behavioral intentions by introducing an integrated conceptual model coupled with the cross-validation approach. Aside from the impact of TPB constructs, the research offers a reference for practitioners to promote TPEBI through the enhancement of destination unique fascination and tourist delight.
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