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

Table 9. Path analysis standardized estimates and significance data
Hypothesis path Standardization estimates SE Est/SE P Hypothesis testing
H1: NGC→LCM 0.560 0.064 8.803 *** Supported
H2: NGC→LCA 0.510 0.082 6.253 *** Supported
H3: NGC→LCB 0.316 0.085 3.698 *** Supported
H4: LCM→LCA 0.188 0.079 2.382 * Supported
H5: LCM→LCB 0.190 0.073 2.624 *** Supported
H6: LCA→LCB 0.400 0.075 5.350 *** Supported
Note: *P<0.05, ** P<0.01, ***P<0.001.
Abbreviations: Est/SE: Estimated value; LCA: Low-carbon tourism awareness; LCB: Low-carbon behavior intention; LCM: Low-carbon travel
motivation; NGC: Perceived intensity of carbon neutrality goals for space tourism; SE: Standard error.

Table 10. Mediating effect analysis

Mediating effect path Indirect effect Total effect Proportion of indirect effects Hypothesis testing
Effect size 95% CI P Effect size 95% CI P Effect size 95% CI P
NGC→LCM→LCB 0.159 (0.107) 0.036, 0.201 0 0.999 (0.668) 0.546, 0.766 0 0.159 (0.160) 0.040, 0.260 0 Supported
NGC→LCA→LCB 0.305 (0.204) 0.132, 0.316 0 0.305 (0.457) 0.158, 0.431 Supported
Abbreviations: 95% CI: 95% confidence interval; LCA: Low-carbon tourism awareness; LCB: Low-carbon behavior intention; LCM: Low-carbon travel
motivation; NGC: Perceived intensity of carbon neutrality goals for space tourism.

5. Discussion and conclusion 5.1. Empirical and theoretical contributions
The present study identified six factors: NC, DC, CC, space 5.1.1. Pioneering the integration of EST in space
tourism LCM, space tourism LCA, and space tourism LCB, tourism research
which have been empirically validated with the help of This study makes a significant contribution to tourism
confirmatory factor analysis. research by being one of the first to apply the EST to the
Concerning the relationship between the constructs, context of space tourism. Typically used in the analysis of
SEM results revealed that NGC, LCM, and LCA have consumer behavior in conventional tourism, integrating
positive and significant effects on LCB. The study showed this theory into the space tourism context provides a novel
that the perceived intensity of the “carbon neutrality for and insightful framework for understanding tourists’
space tourism” concept was vital to potential tourists intentions for low-carbon behavior. This integration
getting into space low-carbon tourism to acquire extends the applicability of the EST and opens up new
knowledge about the destination. Tourists were also avenues for research in the tourism industry, particularly
motivated by low-carbon tourism motivation and in the emerging field of space tourism.
awareness of themselves, which affected their behavior 5.1.2. Examining the impact of carbon neutrality
intention. goals on tourists’ behavioral intentions
The SEM result also indicated that low carbon This research fills a gap in the existing literature by focusing
awareness positively affected tourists’ behavior intention on the influence of space tourism carbon neutrality goals on
toward space. The study provides evidence that a higher tourists’ intentions to engage in low-carbon tourism behavior.
level of tourist’s low-carbon awareness will raise behavior The findings of this study contribute to our understanding
intention. of how the pursuit of carbon neutrality in space tourism can
Regarding indirect relationships, motivation, and shape tourists’ behavior intentions. It provides empirical
awareness mediate the relationship between the perceived evidence of the potential influence of sustainability goals on
intensity of the “carbon neutrality for space tourism” and consumer behavior in the context of space tourism, which
tourists’ behavior intention. It suggests that low-carbon can inform future research and industry practices.
motivation and awareness of tourists visiting space leads
to a better understanding of “carbon neutrality for space 5.1.3. Examining the behavioral intentions in the
tourism” and their behavior intention. This positive context of space tourism
behavior intention, in turn, leads to forming a positive This study focuses on tourists’ intentions to engage in low-
knowledge of carbon neutrality. carbon tourism behavior in the context of space tourism,

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 10 doi: 10.36922/eer.3655