Children and overtourism: a cognitive neuroscience experiment to reflect on exposure and behavioural consequences

Children, despite preferring sustainable tourism scenarios, show a notable fixation on overtourism imagery, particularly overcrowding, according to a cognitive neuroscience study involving 397 participants. The research revealed that while children exhibit increased physiological arousal when exposed to sustainable tourism images—though less than with overtourism—they predominantly express neutral emotions in both contexts. Gender differences emerged, with girls showing lower place attachment in sustainable scenarios. Inner-city residents displayed diminished nature connectedness, and emotions were indirectly linked to pro-environmental behavior. Older children and inner-city residents showed heightened neutrality toward overtourism concerns, while those outside the city exhibited stronger nature connectedness. The study underscores the need for inclusive, child-empowered approaches to sustainable tourism development.

Mandić, A., Pavlić, I., Puh, B., & Séraphin, H. (2023). Children and overtourism: a cognitive neuroscience experiment to reflect on exposure and behavioural consequences. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32(11), 2258–2285. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2278023