Abstract

Research on sustainable practices of backpackers lacks a comprehensive model for understanding their sustainable behavior. This paper argues that the contribution of backpacker tourism to sustainable consumption can be achieved if backpackers’ attitudes and behaviors are understood and managed. Predicated on the tri-component attitude model that conceptualizes attitude as a complex relationship among cognition (backpacker motivations and perceived impacts of backpacking), actions (backpacker sustainable and unsustainable behavior), and affection (backpacker satisfaction), this paper proposes a model for understanding backpacker sustainable behavior. We surveyed 400 backpackers in Ghana and tested 12 hypotheses using SPSS and AMOS software. The findings demonstrate that perceived positive impacts of backpacking predict backpacker sustainable behavior, suggesting that backpackers perceive their impacts positively, and hence engage in sustainable behaviors to reaffirm such perceptions. The results, however, reveal an insignificant relationship between the perceived positive impacts of backpacking and backpacker unsustainable behavior. The results also show that backpacker motivations explain the tendency to behave unsustainably. Based on these findings, we draw implications for promoting “intentional sustainability” by global organizations and destination management organizations.

摘要

关于背包客可持续实践的研究缺乏用于理解其可持续行为的综合模型。本文认为，如果了解和管理背包客的态度和行为，就可以实现背包客旅游业对可持续消费的贡献。基于三成分态度模型，该模型将态度概念化为认知（背包客的动机和背包的感知影响），行动（背包客的可持续和不可持续行为）和情感（背包客的满意度）之间的复杂关系，提出了一个理解模型背包客的可持续行为。我们对加纳的400名背包客进行了调查，并使用SPSS和AMOS软件测试了12种假设。研究结果表明，背包客的感知积极影响预测了背包客的可持续行为，这表明背包客积极地感知了自己的影响，因此参与了可持续行为以重申这种看法。但是，结果表明，背包客的积极影响与背包客的不可持续行为之间存在微不足道的关系。结果还表明，背包客的动机解释了行为不可持续的趋势。基于这些发现，我们对促进全球组织和目的地管理组织的“有意可持续性”提出了建议。揭示了背包客的积极影响与背包客不可持续行为之间的微不足道关系。结果还表明，背包客的动机解释了行为不可持续的趋势。基于这些发现，我们对促进全球组织和目的地管理组织的“有意可持续性”提出了建议。揭示了背包客的积极影响与背包客不可持续行为之间的微不足道关系。结果还表明，背包客的动机解释了行为不可持续的趋势。基于这些发现，我们对促进全球组织和目的地管理组织的“有意可持续性”提出了建议。