ABSTRACT

The transformation of the tourism industry to ensure more sustainable consumption and production practices also requires the transformation of tourists. Tourism is assumed to possess the potential for cathartic experiences that can positively influence individual transformation. This individual transformation is often overlooked in the sustainability debate. As tourists can accelerate system transformation and contribute to the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, more research is needed to understand individual transformation. This conceptual paper puts tourists into the spotlight and adopts a sociopsychological lens to explore how experience-based reflexivity can contribute to individual transformation towards sustainable travel. We argue that two interrelated perspectives are needed as analytical tools, i.e. process and systemic perspectives, and propose two models: The Reflected-Self-Model and the Reflexive-Agent-Model. We suggest that reflection needs to be understood as a critical component in building awareness and changing attitudes, actions, and practices that translate into individual transformation. With the limitations of this conceptual paper in mind, several thought-provoking avenues for future research are proposed. We argue that more research is needed that investigates intermediate stages in the attitude–behaviour gap, bridges individual and system transformation, integrates experiences in travel and home environments, and explores individual resilience.

摘要

旅游业转型以确保更可持续的消费和生产实践也需要游客转型。旅游业被认为具有宣泄体验的潜力，可以对个人转变产生积极影响。在可持续发展辩论中，这种个人转变经常被忽视。由于游客可以加速系统转型并为实现联合国可持续发展目标做出贡献，因此需要更多的研究来了解个人转型。这篇概念性论文将游客置于聚光灯下，并采用社会心理学的视角来探索基于经验的反思如何促进个人向可持续旅行的转变。我们认为需要两个相互关联的观点作为分析工具，即反射自我模型和反射代理模型。我们建议，反思需要被理解为建立意识和改变态度、行动和实践以转化为个人转变的关键组成部分。考虑到这篇概念性论文的局限性，提出了一些发人深省的未来研究途径。我们认为需要更多的研究来调查态度-行为差距的中间阶段，连接个人和系统转型，整合旅行和家庭环境中的经验，并探索个人的适应力。