Page 111 - EER-2-1

Explora: Environment
and Resource Carbon neutrality and low-carbon behavior in space tourism

on sustainable space tourism intention, considering the 2.3. LCA
mediating effects of low-carbon motivation and awareness. The scholarly definition of tourism awareness draws on
EST mainly focuses on and explains the dynamic impact of the conceptual explanation of awareness in psychology.
the essential attributes of events (time, space, and intensity) Holt pointed out that a broad phenomenon of cognitive
33
on entities based on the interaction between system processes includes perception, judgment, learning, and
levels. EST divides the event of the carbon neutrality concept formation. Anderson stated, from a psychological
8
34
goal into active and passive influences on the relationship perspective, that awareness is people’s knowledge
of consumers’ motivation, awareness, and intention of and understanding of something through a series of
sustainable space tourism. 9-11
psychological processes such as perception, memory, and
2.1. Carbon neutrality processing. Low-carbon awareness is the basis for forming
low-carbon attitudes and behaviors. A higher level of low-
Carbon neutrality aims to offset carbon dioxide emissions carbon awareness can easily promote a correct low-carbon
through various measures, achieving zero net emissions. 12-14 attitude and then transform into positive low-carbon
Current research focuses mainly on societal and industry- behaviors. 35,36 Therefore, identifying tourists’ low-carbon
wide perspectives, 15-17 with agriculture, forestry, and awareness levels can help guide their low-carbon behavior.
industry as the critical industries. 18-20 However, tourism- Thus, the following hypothesis is proposed:
specific research, especially in space tourism, is limited. H : Tourists’ low-carbon awareness positively impacts low-
Existing tourism studies focus on carbon footprint 6 carbon behavioral intention in space tourism.
measurement in destinations, 21-23 neglecting the space
tourism field. Commercial space tourism companies must 2.4. Low-carbon tourism behavioral intention
address the carbon footprint in space tourism in light of Regarding behavioral intention, Smith posited that it
37
the global environmental crisis we are facing. Some encapsulates the likelihood of an individual enacting a
2,24
scholars argue that travel policy will be a crucial source of specific behavior toward an object, encompassing actual
travel information for tourists. 25,26 Governments formulate 38
policies to intervene, coordinate, and motivate tourists’ behavior. Gollwitzer and Bargh further elaborated
that behavioral intention comprises goal and execution
activities, which play a practical guiding role. 27,28 Studies intentions. The former pertains to planning, where
suggest that residents’ participation and satisfaction individuals consider their behavioral goals, whereas the
with low-carbon policies positively influence their low- latter relates to execution, determining when, where, and
carbon behavioral intentions. Thus, three hypotheses are 38
29
proposed as follows: how to implement the plans. Scholars have studied the
H : Perceived carbon neutrality positively impacts low- antecedent influencing variables of tourists’ behavioral
intention from different perspectives, including destination
1
carbon motivation in space tourism; 39
H : Perceived carbon neutrality positively impacts low- management and service aspects. Low-carbon behaviors
specifically refer to ensuring the ecosystem’s sustainability
2
carbon awareness in space tourism; 40
H : Perceived carbon neutrality positively impacts low- while maintaining normal economic development.
3
carbon travel intention in space tourism. 2.5. The mediating effect of LCM
2.2. LCM This study aimed to explore the motivation for low-
carbon space tourism. Drawing from the literature, we
Travel motivation is the internal force that drives people hypothesize that variations in awareness trigger subsequent
to tourism activities, with proper activation, orientation,
30
maintenance, and adjustment of these tourism activities motivational processes, ultimately activating behavioral
helping to move the tourism industry toward the motivation. Policies, in particular, can stimulate consumer
sustainability goal. LCM is an internal driver that pushes awareness and diverse motivations. Government tourism
31
tourists to reduce carbon emissions throughout their policies play a practical guiding role, intervening in
tourism activities. The literature suggests that understanding and coordinating tourists’ activities while stimulating
28,30
tourists’ low-carbon motivation helps us identify the factors specific travel motivations. Analogically, space tourists
that drive tourists to participate in low-carbon tourism. influenced by carbon neutrality concepts are likely to
32
Thus, the following hypotheses are proposed: develop low-carbon tourism motivations.
H : Tourists’ low-carbon motivation positively impacts Further research reveals that COVID-19 positive
4
low-carbon awareness in space tourism; information awareness positively impacts students’
H : Tourists’ low-carbon motivation positively impacts travel intentions, mediated by perceived behavioral
5
low-carbon behavioral intention in space tourism; control, travel attitude, and travel motivation, forming

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/eer.3655