From objectors to supporters: developing targeted pro-environmental behavioural change interventions

Journal article


Povilionis, R., Bilal Akbar, M. and Tomasella, B. 2025. From objectors to supporters: developing targeted pro-environmental behavioural change interventions. Current Issues in Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2025.2539871
AuthorsPovilionis, R., Bilal Akbar, M. and Tomasella, B.
Abstract

This study applies the Values-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory to develop pro-environmental behaviour change interventions for Peak District National Park (PDNP), England, UK, which can be used to influence travellers. Through 14 semi-structured interviews with 18–25-year-old PDNP visitors, the research identified two distinct groups: Supporters and Objectors. The analysis revealed three key interventions: (1) visual demonstrations of personal environmental impact targeting Objectors to enhance awareness, (2) enhanced local government involvement in issues such as litter management to strengthen the connection between awareness and responsibility, promoting shared responsibility, and (3) the use of peer influence and rewards to transform individual values into collective pro-environmental actions to enhance social impact. The proposed interventions allow destination managers and policymakers to address individuals’ psychological barriers, leveraging their social norms, and provide tangible infrastructural support to enhance pro-environmental behaviours.

KeywordsValues-beliefs-norms; theory; pro-environmental behavioural change; social marketing; protected areas; over-tourism; destination management
Year2025
JournalCurrent Issues in Tourism
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN 1747-7603
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2025.2539871
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13683500.2025.2539871#abstract
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online04 Aug 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted22 Jul 2025
Deposited07 Aug 2025
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/qz25q/from-objectors-to-supporters-developing-targeted-pro-environmental-behavioural-change-interventions

Download files

  • 27
    total views
  • 3
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Beyond values: business orientation as a driver of small business social responsibility
Tomasella, B. and Conway, E. 2025. Beyond values: business orientation as a driver of small business social responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.70054
Using archival research in marketing
Gill, D. and Tomasella, B. 2025. Using archival research in marketing. in: Lawson, A. and Hancock, C. (ed.) Doing Marketing Research : Alternative Methods for Market Sensing Routledge.
Inspiring a Sustainability Mindset in Enterprise Education
Wylie, A., Tomasella, B., Walid Al Saad, W. and Kelleher, O. 2024. Inspiring a Sustainability Mindset in Enterprise Education . IEEC2024.
Embedding the Sustainable Development Goals Into Higher Education Institutions’ Marketing Curriculum
Tomasella, B., Akbar, B., Lawson, A., Howarth, R. and Bedford, R. 2024. Embedding the Sustainable Development Goals Into Higher Education Institutions’ Marketing Curriculum. Journal of Marketing Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/02734753241231182
Social marketing as a behaviour change strategy to increase tourists' pro-environmental behaviour
Lawson, A., Akbar, B., Tomasella, B. and Azara, I. 2023. Social marketing as a behaviour change strategy to increase tourists' pro-environmental behaviour. in: Ramkissoon, H. (ed.) Handbook on Tourism and Behaviour Change Cheltenham Edward Elgar. pp. 138-155
Maximising the impact of cross-sector partnerships for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Wylie, A. and Tomasella, B. 2023. Maximising the impact of cross-sector partnerships for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference. Newcastle 06 - 08 Sep 2016 British Academy of Management (BAM).
Hospitality that cares: a qualitative investigation into small foodservice businesses’ social responsibility
Barbara Tomasella, Alisha Ali and Devi Gill 2023. Hospitality that cares: a qualitative investigation into small foodservice businesses’ social responsibility. Current Issues in Tourism. 27 (12), pp. 1853-1869. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2214849
CSR engagement in SMEs – tactical or strategic?
Conway, E. and Tomasella, B. CSR engagement in SMEs – tactical or strategic? CSR Conference. Belfast N/A.
The role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in educating future leaders with social impact contributing to the sustainable development goals
Tomasella, B., Anne Wylie and Devi Gill 2022. The role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in educating future leaders with social impact contributing to the sustainable development goals. Social Enterprise Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/sej-03-2022-0027
Abductive Thematic Analysis in Hospitality and Tourism Research
Tomasella, B. 2022. Abductive Thematic Analysis in Hospitality and Tourism Research. in: Contemporary Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism Bingley Emerald. pp. 203-219
How to enhance the engagement of social enterprises with the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Tomasella, B. 2021. How to enhance the engagement of social enterprises with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference. Newcastle 06 - 08 Sep 2016 British Academy of Management (BAM).
Ethical, social or both? The ethicality of Social enterprises
Tomasella, B. 2020. Ethical, social or both? The ethicality of Social enterprises. The British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference. Newcastle 06 - 08 Sep 2016 British Academy of Management (BAM).
The importance of personal values and hospitableness in small foodservice businesses’ social responsibility
Barbara Tomasella and Alisha Ali 2019. The importance of personal values and hospitableness in small foodservice businesses’ social responsibility. Hospitality & Society. https://doi.org/10.1386/hosp_00004_1
Delivering transformative tourism experiences
Tomasella, B. 2019. Delivering transformative tourism experiences. Tourism Naturally.
A critical analysis of small business social responsibility in independent foodservice businesses
Barbara Tomasella 2019. A critical analysis of small business social responsibility in independent foodservice businesses. Thesis https://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00251
Hospitableness: driving Social Responsibility (SR) in hospitality businesses
Tomasella, B. 2018. Hospitableness: driving Social Responsibility (SR) in hospitality businesses. The INC: Tourism, Hospitality & Events in a Changing World. University of Derby.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) digital communication in small independent restaurants.
Tomasella, B. 2016. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) digital communication in small independent restaurants. 5th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business. Milan, Italy 06 - 07 Oct 2016
A pluralistic framework for the analysis of corporate social responsibility and its application to small and medium enterprises
Tomasella, B. 2016. A pluralistic framework for the analysis of corporate social responsibility and its application to small and medium enterprises. The British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference. Newcastle 06 - 08 Sep 2016 British Academy of Management.
Motivations for sustainability engagement among small tourism enterprises
Tomasella, B. 2015. Motivations for sustainability engagement among small tourism enterprises. WIT Press. https://doi.org/10.2495/sdp150751