Actors or spectators? Perceived responsibility for global warming and carbon-neutral travel behaviour

Behaviour change has become a critical driver for achieving net-zero emissions in the tourism industry. This study will focus on Pro-Environmental Behaviours (PEBs) and the attitude-behaviour gap among young generation travellers. The research conducted with university students in northern Finland highlights the often-overlooked role of perceived responsibility in understanding traveller PEB, using a combination of open-ended and close-ended questions to capture nuanced perspectives. The study found that the students connect the responsibility for tackling climate change and environmentally friendly travel with possibilities and power. The attitude-behaviour gap regarding pro-environmental travel is visible regardless of the attribution of responsibility to different entities, and both male and female students face challenges in aligning their tourism actions with their beliefs. The study suggests that perceived responsibility can be considered a form of behavioural intervention aimed at minimising the attitude-behaviour gap among travellers. In our view, further research is needed to understand young travellers’ pro-environmental behaviours across different countries.