Consumer behavior and tourists’ green purchase intention of Gen Z consumers: Moderating role of environmental knowledge

Abstract

The study aims to analyze how factors such as environmental attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and environmental knowledge impact the willingness of Generation Z tourists in Indonesia to make green or environmentally friendly purchases. It also explores the moderating role of environmental knowledge in the relationship between environmental attitude and green purchase intentions. The analysis focuses on Generation Z respondents, totaling 543 individuals. The paper employs the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. The results show that when considered individually, consumer behavior, encompassing environmental attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, exerts a significantly positive impact on green purchase intentions. These results suggest that tourists’ attitudes toward the environment, influence from family or friends, and the ability to control their actions are pivotal in fostering green purchase intentions while traveling. Furthermore, the study demonstrates a substantial positive correlation between environmental knowledge and tourists’ green purchase intentions. Additionally, environmental knowledge moderates environmental attitude, amplifying its positive effect on tourists’ green purchase intentions. This highlights the vital role of environmental knowledge, which not only stimulates green purchase intentions but also motivates tourists to adopt pro-environmental behavior by opting for eco-friendly products.