Influencers of environmentally responsible behaviour in tourism destinations: The role of sustainable intelligence, DSR, and emotional solidarity

In recent decades, environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB) has attracted significant attention across different disciplines. However, empirical studies investigating the key drivers of ERB within tourism destinations remain scarce in emerging countries settings. This gap is especially clear in under-researched regions such as Oman, where understanding the factors influencing ERB is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism development. As a result, this empirical work seeks to uncover the determinants of ERB in tourism destinations in Oman, concentrating on the role of sustainable intelligence (SI) in shaping destination social responsibility (DSR) and its subsequent impact on emotional solidarity and ERB. Using a quantitative approach and employing multiple non-probability sampling methods, data were gathered from 408 visitors across various Omani destinations and analysed through PLS-SEM. The empirical results revealed that SI positively influences DSR, which in turn enhances emotional solidarity and ERB. While emotional solidarity significantly drives ERB, its emotional closeness dimension does not. Additionally, DSR serves as a crucial mediator between SI and ERB. The R 2 findings explain 56.2 % of the variance in ERB, proving a robust research model predictive capability. The research findings contribute to the academic and practical discussions related to ERB, destination management, and marketing strategies for fostering sustainable practices in tourism destinations. Some limitations concerning the study's context, variable scope, and its cross-sectional design are acknowledged, highlighting the need for further research employing longitudinal and multi-method approaches.