Inducing pro-environmental behavior in tourists for the sustainable development of Japan's tourism and hospitality industries

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20KK0031
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: 齊藤 広晃 立命館アジア太平洋大学, 国際経営学部, 准教授 (30794812)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 永井 隼人 和歌山大学, 観光学部, 准教授 (80784280) ; YOO KateInyoung 関西外国語大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (10834773) ; 柏木 翔 神奈川大学, 国際日本学部, 助教 (70713907) ; 鎌田 裕美 一橋大学, 大学院経営管理研究科, 准教授 (00456287)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-10-27 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: PEB / tourist / hospitality / hotel

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In AY2021, some of our members could meet in person to discuss our project in November and December. This was very beneficial for our team to strengthen the bond and proceed with the project smoothly.

Furthermore, to understand the current situation of Japanese tourists’ pro-environmental awareness, concerns, and behaviours, we organised a series of meetings with hotel executives, industry magazine publishers, and hotel management companies.

After these meetings, one of the interviewees showed his interest to help our experiment. To inspect the experiment venue, the principal investigator visited the site in January, met the general manager, and looked around the hotel facilities and guest rooms. Currently, the team is developing the experiment to conduct.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

While the ongoing COVID-19 situation affected our travel plans (domestic and international) and conducting face-to-face meetings among the team and with industry personnel, we strategically worked together by using online platforms and conducted meetings. However, to proceed with this project on time, we do hope to resume our business travel in AY2022.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

In AY2022, we will finalise designing our experiment, and conduct a pilot study, followed by a real experiment targeting Japanese tourists.

We will also start interviewing hotel executives to better understand their challenges and dilemmas when they introduce pro-environmental practices in their operations. Currently, two members are working on developing the interview questionnaires. Furthermore, we plan to produce some outputs such as research notes, conference papers, and research papers in AY2022.

Lastly, the principal investigator plans to travel to Australia, meet the collaborators and visit the hotels to inspect their pro-environmental practices in Brisbane (e.g., Hilton Brisbane).

Causes of Carryover

Due to the COVID-19 situation, domestic and international travels were disrupted. The unused funds from AY2021 will be reallocated after revising the AY2022 plans.