Artigo Científico

Understanding the intention-behavior gap in sustainable travel: a two-step approach

Resumo: Promoting green travel, which involves using lower carbon-emitting travel modes such as trains instead of planes and cars, is crucial for sustainable tourism. While previous studies have concentrated on fostering green travel intentions (GTI) to promote green travel behaviors (GTB), there often exists a gap between intentions and actual behaviors. This study uses the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore the reasons behind this inconsistency. Analyzing 2346 surveys through logistic regression and artificial neural networks, the research identifies contextual factors like vehicle ownership and travel distance as key drivers of the intention-behavior gap for individuals with both high and low GTI. Additionally, convenience and demographic aspects such as income and marital status significantly contribute to this gap. The influence of subjective norms is more pronounced in individuals with low GTI, primarily through interpersonal relationships, while attitudes show minimal impact. This study not only sheds light on the complexities of converting green travel intentions into behaviors but also provides a theoretical framework and methodological approach that can be useful for future research. It offers practical insights for policymakers, businesses, and individuals, suggesting targeted strategies to effectively promote green travel in tourism. © 2025 The Authors

  • Tipo de documento

    Artigo Científico

  • Tema

    Sustentabilidade, Desenvolvimento sustentável, Green travel

  • Autor

    Zhang, Y., Xiang, C., Huang, Y., Du, Q., Mao, Y., & Lu, H.

  • Data

    2025