Eco-Anxiety and Tourist Destinations: Emerging Challenges in Destination Image and Sustainable

Authors: Madalina Nicoleta Frinculeasa, Razvan Ion Chitescu, Adriana Grigorescu

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between eco-anxiety and the perceived importance of environmental and sustainability-related issues in tourism, aiming to assess whether heightened levels of eco-anxiety influence tourists’ prioritization of specific sustainability challenges. Based on a sample of 247 respondents, the research employed a structured questionnaire to gather data on both self-reported eco-anxiety levels and perceived importance rankings for ten tourism-related problems. Quantitative analysis included the computation of mean scores and Pearson correlation coefficients, followed by scatter plot visualizations to explore the patterns of association between variables. Results revealed that while climate change and greenwashing were rated as highly important issues, their correlations with eco-anxiety were only moderate (r = 0.42 and r = 0.22, respectively). Other issues, such as the lack of clear regulations or the high costs of eco-friendly solutions, demonstrated weak or insignificant relationships with eco-anxiety levels. The scatter plots showed considerable variability across all levels of eco-anxiety, suggesting that this emotional state does not consistently predict how individuals assess the importance of specific issues. Emotional concern for the environment appears to function more as a generalized disposition rather than a determinant of specific cognitive evaluations. These findings emphasize the complexity of consumer attitudes in sustainable tourism and underline the need for communication strategies that are both emotionally engaging and factually credible, tailored to diverse informational and psychological profiles.