Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior
Abstract In an era where environmental conservation is increasingly critical, identifying pathways through which technological innovations like virtual reality tourism (VRT) can promote sustainable behaviors is vital. This study investigates the impact of ‘ecological presence’, a newly proposed sub-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56615-z |
| _version_ | 1797259318839476224 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhen Su Biman Lei Dandan Lu Shuchen Lai Xijing Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhen Su Biman Lei Dandan Lu Shuchen Lai Xijing Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhen Su |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In an era where environmental conservation is increasingly critical, identifying pathways through which technological innovations like virtual reality tourism (VRT) can promote sustainable behaviors is vital. This study investigates the impact of ‘ecological presence’, a newly proposed sub-dimension of presence in VRT, on tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (TERB). Through structural equation modeling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of data from 290 participants, we unveil that ecological presence—defined as the authenticity and immersion of tourists in virtual ecological environments—significantly bolsters biospheric values, environmental self-identity, and personal norms. Additionally, our findings indicate that ecological presence in VRT indirectly promotes TERB, predominantly through the mediation of enhanced biospheric values and environmental self-identity. Notably, ecological presence, biospheric values, and environmental self-identity constitutes a sufficient condition for achieving a high level of TERB. This research highlights the potential of VRT as an innovative tool for tourism administrators to foster environmental stewardship, offering a novel approach to leveraging technology for conservation efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:07:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5dae2f47f5d4c04b2aba215f8029d6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:07:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5dae2f47f5d4c04b2aba215f8029d6c2024-03-17T12:23:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-56615-zImpact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behaviorZhen Su0Biman Lei1Dandan Lu2Shuchen Lai3Xijing Zhang4Department of Tourism Management, Business School, Guangxi UniversityDepartment of Tourism Management, Business School, Guangxi UniversityDepartment of Tourism Management, Business School, Guangxi University of Finance and EconomicsDepartment of Tourism Management, Business School, Guangxi UniversityDepartment of Tourism Management, Business School, Guangxi UniversityAbstract In an era where environmental conservation is increasingly critical, identifying pathways through which technological innovations like virtual reality tourism (VRT) can promote sustainable behaviors is vital. This study investigates the impact of ‘ecological presence’, a newly proposed sub-dimension of presence in VRT, on tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (TERB). Through structural equation modeling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of data from 290 participants, we unveil that ecological presence—defined as the authenticity and immersion of tourists in virtual ecological environments—significantly bolsters biospheric values, environmental self-identity, and personal norms. Additionally, our findings indicate that ecological presence in VRT indirectly promotes TERB, predominantly through the mediation of enhanced biospheric values and environmental self-identity. Notably, ecological presence, biospheric values, and environmental self-identity constitutes a sufficient condition for achieving a high level of TERB. This research highlights the potential of VRT as an innovative tool for tourism administrators to foster environmental stewardship, offering a novel approach to leveraging technology for conservation efforts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56615-zVirtual reality tourismTourists' environmentally responsible behaviorEcological presenceBiospheric valuesEnvironmental self-identityPersonal norms |
| spellingShingle | Zhen Su Biman Lei Dandan Lu Shuchen Lai Xijing Zhang Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior Scientific Reports Virtual reality tourism Tourists' environmentally responsible behavior Ecological presence Biospheric values Environmental self-identity Personal norms |
| title | Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior |
| title_full | Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior |
| title_fullStr | Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior |
| title_short | Impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior |
| title_sort | impact of ecological presence in virtual reality tourism on enhancing tourists environmentally responsible behavior |
| topic | Virtual reality tourism Tourists' environmentally responsible behavior Ecological presence Biospheric values Environmental self-identity Personal norms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56615-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhensu impactofecologicalpresenceinvirtualrealitytourismonenhancingtouristsenvironmentallyresponsiblebehavior AT bimanlei impactofecologicalpresenceinvirtualrealitytourismonenhancingtouristsenvironmentallyresponsiblebehavior AT dandanlu impactofecologicalpresenceinvirtualrealitytourismonenhancingtouristsenvironmentallyresponsiblebehavior AT shuchenlai impactofecologicalpresenceinvirtualrealitytourismonenhancingtouristsenvironmentallyresponsiblebehavior AT xijingzhang impactofecologicalpresenceinvirtualrealitytourismonenhancingtouristsenvironmentallyresponsiblebehavior |