Sustainable Tourist Behaviour Scale (STBS): A Proposal

Abstract

Measuring sustainable tourist behaviour is fundamental to strengthening more responsible tourism, as it directly influences environmental conservation, social well-being and local economic development. The objective is to validate a measurement scale for sustainable behaviour among tourists. A total of 421 observations were collected from tourists residing in the State of Mexico, Mexico. The methodology involved cross-validation through a) a Psychological Network Analysis (PNA) and b) a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The result yielded a scale with 17 validated indicators. The network analysis identified that individual behaviours (nodes) have significant interactions, highlighting participation in community-beneficial activities, respectful treatment of residents, purchasing local products and crafts, as well as pro-environmental practices. The factor analysis confirmed a three- dimensional structure reflecting sustainable behaviour from ecological, socio-cultural, and economic aspects. Methodological integration constitutes an innovative contribution to scientific progress, as it deciphers patterns of interaction between indicators and dimensions, thereby establishing a novel paradigm for addressing tourism sustainability. The validation of this instrument has important practical implications, serving as a foundation for diagnostics, interventions, and policy design aimed at promoting sustainable tourism.