Effects of pro-environmental destination image and leisure sports mania on motivation and pro-environmental behavior of visitors to Korea's national parks

Fostering Resident Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Roles of Destination Image and Confucian Culture

“…Image has been defined as overall impressions that individuals hold of specific objects [28,29]. The notion of PEDI originates from the destination image concept and can be defined as overall positive environmental impressions that people have of particular destinations [30]. Allied concepts include green destination image, environmentally-friendly image, and ecological image [31,32] and they represent a collection of individuals' perceptions, emotions, and impressions of the destination environment.…”

“…Allied concepts include green destination image, environmentally-friendly image, and ecological image [31,32] and they represent a collection of individuals' perceptions, emotions, and impressions of the destination environment. PEDIs are influenced by the PEB setting and the perceptions that destination management organizations (DMOs) and protected areas attempt to create through pro-environmental measures such as landscape protection, ecological promotion and publicity, and waste recycling [30]. In addition, some DMOs, especially local government agencies, introduce policies, regulations, and other initiatives to develop, promote, and enhance a pro-environmental image.…”

“…In addition, some DMOs, especially local government agencies, introduce policies, regulations, and other initiatives to develop, promote, and enhance a pro-environmental image. Several studies have regarded the concept of the destination image as an antecedent of attitudes [33], motivations [30], destination attachment [32], and revisit intentions [34,35]. Accordingly, as a component of destination cognitive images, pro-environmental images affect individuals' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors in relation to the environment.…”

“…Internal states can mediate the relationship between stimuli and responses. From the perspective of image creation, PEDIs are fostered by protected areas and DMOs through the sorting and refining of various pro-environmental elements that are selectively disseminated to residents, which affect residents' subjective perceptions of the objective environmental elements of the destination [30]. Accordingly, the subjective perception of pro-environmental scenarios and eco-friendly stimulation may trigger residents' internal states in relation to the environment, such as identity, attitudes, and emotions, which then determine residents' PEB.…”

“…The questionnaire comprised two parts: the first included demographic characteristics of residents (gender, age, education, and monthly incomes); and the second was the scales for five variables. Four items (including effective green development and construction, well-preserved natural environments, various kinds of breeding programs for animals and plants, and many opportunities to experience nature) based on Lee and Jeong [30] were used to measure PEDI. Five items (including concern for the natural environment, being dependent on the natural environment, being protective of the natural environment, being an advocate of the natural environment, and being connected to the natural environment) based on Stets and Biga [13] as well as Nunkoo and Gursoy [14] measured environmental identity.…”