Title: The influence of religious commitment on eco friendly travel intentions in the Middle East: the moderating role of gender and environmental knowledge

Authors: Abdulaziz Mohammed Alsawafi; Naeima Al Ghafri

Addresses: University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 699, PC 611, Nizwa, Oman ' University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 699, PC 611, Nizwa, Oman

Abstract: While many individuals hold religious beliefs and possess knowledge about environmental issues, these beliefs and knowledge do not necessarily translate into environmentally sustainable behaviours in their daily lives. Therefore, this study explored the impact of religious commitment and environmental knowledge on the eco-friendly travel intentions of Arab higher education students. Additionally, the potential moderating effects of environmental knowledge and gender on the relationship between religious commitment and eco-friendly travel intentions were investigated. Data were collected from 338 Arab higher education students enrolled in Omani universities and colleges using a questionnaire survey. Results revealed a weak positive correlation between religious commitment and eco-friendly travel intentions, and an even weaker positive correlation between environmental knowledge and eco-friendly travel intentions. Contrary to the hypotheses, no evidence was found to support the moderating roles of environmental knowledge and gender in the relationship between religious commitment and eco-friendly travel intentions. Furthermore, the study provided insights into the impact of prior travel experience and exposure to environmental disasters on eco-friendly travel intentions. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical and practical implications for the Arab higher education student travel market and suggesting potential avenues for future research.

Keywords: eco-friendly travel; Arab students; religious commitment; environmental knowledge; gender; sustainable tourism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLTM.2023.138760

International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing, 2023 Vol.8 No.1, pp.53 - 80

Received: 31 Aug 2023
Accepted: 02 Jan 2024
Published online: 30 May 2024 *

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