Responsible tourist behaviour : The role of social engagement

International audienceThis is a study of the effect of social engagement on responsible tourist behaviour. We also examine the mediating role of responsible public management of tourism, involvement in responsible tourism and the ecological orientation of tourism. This research is based on an overall sample of 656 respondents. Our research hypotheses are tested using structural equation modelling. The results reveal a direct positive effect of social engagement on responsible behaviour among tourists. Involvement in responsible tourism and satisfaction regarding the responsible public management of tourism have mediating effects on the relationship between social engagement and responsible tourist behaviour. However, an ecological orientation in tourism has no significant mediating effect on this relationship, nor does it have a direct effect on responsible tourist behaviour. We also discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our findings

Resistance to a social innovation: An analytic framework for problems of Fair Trade diffusion

In this study we propose conceptualizing Fair Trade as a form of social innovation. Our goal is to better understand its failure to gain general acceptance by examining consumer resistance to innovation. Research methods include observation (consumption behavior in a canteen) and face-to-face interviews. Our findings reveal that individual barriers are insufficient to explain resistance to Fair Trade. We discuss the reasons why consumers in our study showed low levels of identification with and appropriation of Fair Trade. We conclude with recommendations for facilitating the adoption of Fair Trade and social innovations.Conceptualiser le commerce équitable (CE) comme une innovation sociale permet d'éclairer ses problèmes de diffusion en étudiant la résistance à l'innovation. Une étude terrain en deux volets (quasi-expérimentation et entretiens qualitatifs) montre que lever les freins individuels ne suffit pas à vaincre la résistance aux produits issus du CE. Les failles dans le processus d'innovation sociale (appropriation, identification) sont mises au jour et discutées, ce qui débouche sur des recommandations pour faciliter la diffusion du CE et des innovations sociales