Role of religiosity in shaping pro-environmental behavior during travel: a systematic review
Md Nurnobi Islam, Julia N. Albrecht, Brent LovelockPurpose
This study aims to conduct a systematic review to synthesize empirical evidence on the relationship between religiosity and pro-environmental behavior and to critically evaluate how religiosity influences tourists’ pro-environmental behavior at travel destinations. The objectives are three-fold: to synthesize existing empirical findings, to assess the methodological rigor of current studies and to identify opportunities for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the PRISMA framework, this research systematically screened 336 records retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCOhost. Of these, ten studies have met the inclusion criteria and been incorporated into the final review.
Findings
Most reviewed studies suggest a positive association between religiosity and tourists’ intention for pro-environmental behavior. Moreover, the analysis has revealed some methodological limitations that undermine the transparency, generalizability, replicability and validity of these foundational studies. These shortcomings highlight the need for more robust research designs.
Originality/value
By synthesizing measurable empirical findings, this research offers insights for theorizing the relationship between religiosity and environmental behavior during travel. It has also offered targeted recommendations to guide future research efforts and proposed research opportunities to advance this niche yet increasingly relevant domain of inquiry. In addition, this research has identified several research gaps, helping researchers pinpoint where new investigations are most needed.