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Exploring the Role of Tourists: Responsible Behavior Triggered by the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Sarah Eichelberger

    (Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, SME & Tourism, University of Innsbruck, Karl-Schönherr-Straße 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Manuela Heigl

    (Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, SME & Tourism, University of Innsbruck, Karl-Schönherr-Straße 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Mike Peters

    (Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, SME & Tourism, University of Innsbruck, Karl-Schönherr-Straße 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Birgit Pikkemaat

    (Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, SME & Tourism, University of Innsbruck, Karl-Schönherr-Straße 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Responsible tourism implies that all actors involved in tourism take responsibility for their actions. The concept of responsible tourism has been extensively addressed in tourism research and practice. However, studies analyzing the tourists’ contribution to responsible tourism have been neglected. Considering that tourists have the potential to contribute to economic, environmental socio-cultural, and institutional sustainability, this study focuses on the role tourists can play in responsible tourism. It also examines how responsible behavior among tourists has been triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, drawing on a planned behavior perspective by concentrating on the tourist contribution to sustainable tourism, responsible tourism behavior is investigated by means of 19 semi-structured interviews. The study found that tourists are not only sensitive to sustainability but that they also behave responsibly both on site and in their travel choices. At the same time, tourists pass the buck to suppliers and providers by requesting rules, information and opportunities for responsible tourism to be created. In this regard, implications for theory and practice can be derived by informing suppliers and providers about their requested responsibilities, as well as by adding a crisis perspective to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Eichelberger & Manuela Heigl & Mike Peters & Birgit Pikkemaat, 2021. "Exploring the Role of Tourists: Responsible Behavior Triggered by the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5774-:d:559119
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    2. Anju Kandan Parakkal & Bindu Vazhakkatte Thazhathethil & Babu George, 2024. "The Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Environmental (PMSE) Framework for Enhancing Wellness Tourism Experiences and Its Validation in the Context of Kerala, India," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Jaufenthaler, Philipp, 2023. "A safe haven in times of crisis: The appeal of family companies as employers amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    4. Korinth Bartosz, 2023. "From resilience to collapse: a cross-country study of tourist spending in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 11(3), pages 54-64, September.
    5. Marcell Kupi & Eszter Szemerédi, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 on the Destination Choices of Hungarian Tourists: A Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Swagata Chakraborty & Amrut Sadachar, 2023. "Did Anything Good Come Out of the Pandemic? COVID-19-Stress Induced Self-Regulatory Sustainable Apparel Consumption among the Millennials in the U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Ketan Bhatt & Claudia Seabra & Sunil Kumar Kabia & Kumar Ashutosh & Amit Gangotia, 2022. "COVID Crisis and Tourism Sustainability: An Insightful Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Maria Palazzo & Iza Gigauri & Mirela Clementina Panait & Simona Andreea Apostu & Alfonso Siano, 2022. "Sustainable Tourism Issues in European Countries during the Global Pandemic Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Simona Vinerean & Alin Opreana & Cosmin Tileagă & Roxana Elena Popșa, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Residents’ Support for Sustainable Tourism Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-29, November.
    10. Agata Balińska & Wioletta Olejniczak, 2021. "Experiences of Polish Tourists Traveling for Leisure Purposes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Shiqi Zhang & Tianwei Sun & Yuan Lu, 2023. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Tourists’ Risk Perceptions: Tourism Policies’ Mediating Role in Sustainable and Resilient Recovery in the New Normal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.

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