HOW DOES GEOTOURISM PROMOTE TOURISTS' SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES? THE ROLE OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPACT OF UNESCO

Wen-jie QIAN

doi:10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.01.016

PDF(3720 KB)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1) : 170-180. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.01.016

Tourism

HOW DOES GEOTOURISM PROMOTE TOURISTS' SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES? THE ROLE OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPACT OF UNESCO

Wen-jie QIAN

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Geotourism has been increasingly recognized as a vehicle for sustainable development, yet little is known about how visitors' experiences transform into active behavioral support for sustainable practices, especially in the context of UNESCO Global Geoparks. This study investigates the formation path of visitors' behavioral support intention for destination sustainable practices, conceptualized as action-oriented willingness to participate in protection, advocate responsible practices, and engage in planning. Drawing on Pine and Gilmore's 4Es framework, this study construct and test a model linking geotourism experiences (education, esthetics, entertainment, escapism) to support intention for destination sustainable practices through pride, place attachment and subsequent engagement.The data were collected from 590 visitors to a UNESCO Global Geopark located in Henan Province, China, through a random intercept survey method. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships, and independent sample t-tests were used to examine differences between respondents aware and unaware of the site's UNESCO designation. The results indicate that all four experiential dimensions significantly enhance visitors' pride, place attachment, and engagement. Moreover, respondents aware of the UNESCO certification reported significantly higher levels of experience quality, emotional connection, engagement, and behavioral support intention than those unaware.The study contributes to the literature in three ways. Conceptually, it introduces and operationalizes support intention for destination sustainable practices as a distinct construct, extending prior work that focused primarily on passive compliance intentions.

Key words

geotourism / geopark / experience economy / sustainable tourism / UNESCO

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Wen-jie QIAN. HOW DOES GEOTOURISM PROMOTE TOURISTS' SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES? THE ROLE OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPACT OF UNESCO[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(1): 170-180 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.01.016

References

List( Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within ) Chart analysis

1	Pham K , Andereck K L , Vogt C A . Stakeholders' involvement in an evidence-based sustainable tourism plan[J]. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2025, 33 (4): 673- 696. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2259117 Cited in this article [3]

2	Dolnicar S , Greene D . Research for environmentally sustainable tourism: All talk, no action?[J]. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025, 62, 28- 33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2024.12.002 Cited in this article [1]

3	龚克, 孙克勤. 地质旅游研究进展[J]. 中国人口·资源与环境, 2011, 21 (S1): 243- 246. Gong Ke , Sun Keqin . Review of the study of geotourism[J]. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2011, 21 (S1): 243- 246. Cited in this article [2]

4	Gupta V , Anand S , Wei D , et al. Exploring applied sustainable strategies through geoheritage and geotourism: A systematic literature review[J]. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 2024, 12 (4): 660- 677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.009 Cited in this article [2]

5	Boley B B , Nickerson N P , Bosak K . Measuring geotourism: Developing and testing the geotraveler tendency scale (GTS)[J]. Journal of Travel Research, 2011, 50 (5): 567- 578. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287510382295 Cited in this article [4]

6	Sarkar A , Gayen S K . Mapping the field: A systematic bibliographic review of geoto-urism trends in the twenty-first century[J]. Geoheritage, 2025, 17 (2): 57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-025-01090-9 Cited in this article [5]

7	Farsani N T , Coelho C , Costa C . Geotourism and geoparks as novel strategies for socio-economic development in rural areas[J]. International Journal of Tourism Research, 2011, 13 (1): 68- 81. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.800 Cited in this article [1]

8	Zheng X , Lin Y , Cheng X , et al. An investigation into the formation of tourists' pro-environmental behavior in geotourism: Balancing tourism and ecosystem preservation[J]. Sustainability, 2025, 17 (4): 1422. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041422 Cited in this article [5]

9	Xu K , Wu W . Geoparks and geotourism in China: A sustainable approach to geoherit-age conservation and local development: A review[J]. Land, 2022, 11 (9): 1493. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091493 Cited in this article [1]

10	Miśkiewicz K . Geotourism product as an indicator for sustainable development in Poland[J]. Sustainability, 2024, 16 (13): 5516. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135516 Cited in this article [4]

11	Xie M , Chi X , Han H . A complexity theory in geotourism: Traveler environmentally sustainable behaviors in global geoparks[J]. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 2024, 41 (8): 1021- 1037. Cited in this article [2]

12	Gautam V . Examining relationships among festival satisfaction, place attachment, emotional experience, and destination loyalty[J]. Leisure Sciences, 2025, 47 (2): 348- 365. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2022.2099493 Cited in this article [1]

13	Rasoolimanesh S M , Khoo-Lattimore C , Md Noor S , et al. Tourist engagement and loyalty: Gender matters?[J]. Current Issues in Tourism, 2021, 24 (6): 871- 885. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1765321 Cited in this article [1]

14	张建平. 世界地质公园的前世今生[J]. 地质论评, 2020, 66 (6): 1710- 1718. Zhang Jianping . History of UNESCO global geopark[J]. Geological Review, 2020, 66 (6): 1710- 1718. Cited in this article [1]

15	Ferreira D R , Valdati J . Geoparks and sustainable development: Systematic review[J]. Geoheritage, 2023, 15 (1): 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-022-00775-9 Cited in this article [3]

16	Rinaldi C , Giovanardi M , Lucarelli A , et al. Unpacking a global spatial brand: Brand management practices in the UNESCO city of gastronomy network[J]. Journal of Place Management and Development, 2025, 18 (1): 1- 19. Cited in this article [3]

17	Pine B J , Gilmore J H . Welcome to the experience economy[J]. Harvard Business Review, 1998, 76 (4): 97- 105. Cited in this article [2]

18	许涛, 田明中. 我国国家地质公园旅游系统研究进展与趋势[J]. 旅游学刊, 2010, 25 (11): 84- 92. Xu Tao , Tian Mingzhong . On the study progress of tourism system of China's national geoparks and several problems required to be urgently studied[J]. Tourism Tribune, 2010, 25 (11): 84- 92. Cited in this article [2]

19	Hose T A . Selling the story of Britain's stone. Environmental interpretation[J]. Environmental Interpretation, 1995, 10 (2): 16- 17.

20	Štrba Ľ , Vravcová A , Podoláková M , et al. Linking geoheritage or geosite assessment results with geotourism potential and development: A literature review[J]. Sustainability, 2023, 15 (12): 9539. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129539 Cited in this article [2]

21	Hose T A , Vasiljević D A . Defining the nature and purpose of modern geotourism with particular reference to the United Kingdom and south-east Europe[J]. Geoheritage, 2012, 4 (12): 25- 43. Cited in this article [2]

22	Ólafsdóttir R , Tverijonaite E . Geotourism: A systematic literature review[J]. Geosciences, 2018, 8 (7): 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8070234 Cited in this article [1]

23	Selem K M , Khalid R , Tan C C , et al. Geotourism destination development: Scale development and validation[J]. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 2024, 46, 100763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2024.100763 Cited in this article [1]

24	Quadri-Felitti D L , Fiore A M . Destination loyalty: Effects of wine tourists' experiences, memories, and satisfaction on intentions[J]. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 2013, 13 (1): 47- 62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358413510017 Cited in this article [3]

Carrillo-Hernández

Y M

, Ríos-Reyes

C A

, Villarreal-Jaimes

C A

. Geotourism and ge-oeducation: A holistic approach for socioeconomic development in rural areas of Los Santos municipality, Santander, Colombia[J]. Geoheritage, 2024, 16 (4): 94.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00974-6

Cited in this article [2]

26	Orazi D C , Yi Mah K , Derksen T , et al. Consumer escapism: Scale development, validation, and physiological associations[J]. Journal of Business Research, 2023, 160, 113805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113805 Cited in this article [3]

27	Holmqvist J , Diaz Ruiz C , Peñaloza L . Moments of luxury: Hedonic escapism as a luxury experience[J]. Journal of Business Research, 2020, 116, 503- 513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.10.015 Cited in this article [1]

28	Ponsignon F , Lunardo R , Michrafy M . Why are international visitors more satisfied with the tourism experience? The role of hedonic value, escapism, and psychic distance[J]. Journal of Travel Research, 2021, 60 (8): 1771- 1786. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520961175 Cited in this article [1]

29	Pralong J . Geotourism: A new form of tourism utilising natural landscapes and based on imagination and emotion[J]. Tourism Review, 2006, 61 (3): 20- 25. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb058476 Cited in this article [1]

30	Jorgenson J , Nickerson N . Geotourism and sustainability as a business mindset[J]. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 2016, 25 (3): 270- 290. Cited in this article [1]

31	Stets J E , Burke P J . Identity theory and social identity theory[J]. Social Psychology Quarterly, 2000, 63 (3): 224. https://doi.org/10.2307/2695870 Cited in this article [1]

32	Rather R A , Hollebeek L D , Rasoolimanesh S M . First-time versus repeat tourism customer engagement, experience, and value cocreation: An empirical investigation[J]. Journal of Travel Research, 2022, 61 (3): 549- 564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287521997572 Cited in this article [1]

33	Zhang Q , Liu X , Li Z , et al. Multi-experiences in the art performance tourism: Integrating experience economy model with flow theory[J]. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 2021, 38 (5): 491- 510. Cited in this article [1]

34	Chen N (Chris) , Dwyer L , Firth T . Conceptualization and measurement of dimensionality of place attachment[J]. Tourism Analysis, 2014, 19 (3): 323- 338. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354214X14029467968529 Cited in this article [2]

35	Chen N (Chris) , Dwyer L , Firth T . Residents' place attachment and word-of-mouth behaviours: A tale of two cities[J]. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2018, 36, 1- 11. Cited in this article [2]

36	Cai X , Hu Z , He J , et al. A meta-analysis of the antecedents and outcomes of tourist place attachment[J]. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2025.02.006 Cited in this article [1]

37	周庆, 曲颖. 游客对居民情感团结的形成路径研究: 基于混合研究方法[J]. 人文地理, 2025, 40 (2): 181- 192. Zhou Qing , Qu Ying . The formaing pathway of tourists' emotional solidarity toward residents: Based on a mixed research methods[J]. Human Geography, 2025, 40 (2): 181- 192. Cited in this article [1]

38	Soulard J , Park J , Zou S . Pride in transformation: A rural tourism stakeholder view[J]. Journal of Travel Research, 2024, 63 (1): 80- 99. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221143487 Cited in this article [1]

39	Zhao Z F , Li Z W . Destination authenticity, place attachment and loyalty: Evaluating tourist experiences at traditional villages[J]. Current Issues in Tourism, 2022, 26 (3): 1- 16. Cited in this article [1]

40	Reitsamer B F , Brunner-Sperdin A , Stokburger-Sauer N E . Destination attractiveness and destination attachment: The mediating role of tourists' attitude[J]. Tourism Management Perspectives, 2016, 19, 93- 101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2016.05.003 Cited in this article [2]

41	Chen S , Han X , Bilgihan A , et al. Customer engagement research in hospitality and tourism: A systematic review[J]. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 2021, 30 (7): 871- 904. Cited in this article [1]

42	Paul I , Roy G . Tourist's engagement in eco-tourism: A review and research agenda[J]. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2023, 54, 316- 328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2023.01.002 Cited in this article [1]

43	Catana M M , Brilha J B . The role of UNESCO global geoparks in promoting geosciences education for sustainability[J]. Geoheritage, 2020, 12 (1) https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00440-z Cited in this article [1]

44	Gupta S . Triggering place brand loyalty: The nexus between place brand credibility, fascination and attachment[J]. Current Issues in Tourism, 2025, 28 (13): 2041- 2046. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2024.2339963 Cited in this article [1]

45	Henriques M H , Brilha J . UNESCO Global Geoparks: A strategy towards global understanding and sustainability[J]. Episodes, 2017, 40 (4): 349- 355. https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i4/017036 Cited in this article [1]

46	刘晓静, 梁留科. 地质公园景区科普旅游评价指标体系构建及实证——以河南云台山世界地质公园为例[J]. 经济地理, 2016, 36 (7): 182- 189. Liu Xiaojing , Liang Liuke . Construction of geopark popular science tourism evaluation system and empirical research[J]. Economic Geography, 2016, 36 (7): 182- 189. Cited in this article [1]

47	Oh H , Fiore A M , Jeoung M . Measuring experience economy concepts: Tourism applications[J]. Journal of Travel Research, 2007, 46 (2): 119- 132. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287507304039 Cited in this article [3]

Luksyte

, Avery

D R

. The effects of citizenship dissimilarity and national pride on attitudes toward immigrants: Investigating mediators and moderators of intergroup contact[J]. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2010, 34 (6): 629- 641.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2010.04.001

Cited in this article [1]

49	He M , Liu B , Li Y . Tourist Inspiration: How the wellness tourism experience inspires tourist engagement[J]. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 2023, 47 (7): 1115- 1135. Cited in this article [1]

50	Wang F , Luan F . structural equation model of residents' support of geological heritage protection area for geological tourism in Kanas national geopark, China[J]. Geoheritage, 2021, 13 (4): 111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00634-z Cited in this article [2]

51	Reitsamer B F , Brunner-Sperdin A . It's all about the brand: Place brand credibility, place attachment, and consumer loyalty[J]. Journal of Brand Management, 2021, 28 (3): 291- 301. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41262-020-00229-z

52	Abou-Shouk M , Soliman M . The impact of gamification adoption intention on brand awareness and loyalty in tourism: The mediating effect of customer engagement[J]. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 2021, 20, 100559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100559 Cited in this article [1]