Small island tourism and visitors’ pro-environmental behaviors : an optimum combination impact assessment

Abstract

Through a combination of variable- and case-based analyses, this research examines the factors influencing pro-environmental behaviors (PB) among tourists visiting small islands. Using advanced analytical techniques, including Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), we identify necessary conditions, explore the sufficient conditions, and elaborate on potential configurations resulting from the intricate interactions between constructs, such as value–belief–norm, evaluation, and experience. By categorizing the influential factors on tourists’ PB into four exhaustive groups, this study provides fresh perspectives on the existence of multiple necessary conditions. Specifically, we highlight the concept of Sufficient but Unnecessary parts of factors that are Insufficient but Necessary (SUIN conditions), which helps uncover complex dependencies among variables in explaining PB. By leveraging the SUIN framework, we identify two multiple necessary conditions, particularly stemming from the experience construct, that play a crucial role in the manifestation of PB.