Impact of culture and natural disasters on residents' behaviors toward eco-environmental conservation: Sichuan province case studies

Along with the growth of tourism, the eco-environments of an increasing number of tourist destinations have been threatened by natural disasters and changing traditional cultures. To investigate eco-environmental issues, some studies have focused on tourism stakeholders' pro-environmental behaviors. To address these issues, we examine the relationship between culture, natural disasters and residents' behaviors toward eco-environmental conservation in two tourist destinations in Sichuan province. We collected data from the Jiuzhaigou National Park (JNP) and the Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System (MQDIS, a UNESCO World Heritage site). The results are important for tourism management authorities to implement effective environmental management policies, which ensure that local traditional culture thrives. Authorities also have to promote environment and disaster education to strengthen personal obligations to protect the environment. Further research is necessary to validate our model in other tourist destinations with different cultural community residents. We will also investigate the relationship between egoistic values and residents' pro-environmental behaviors in tourism destinations.