Unveiling Generation Z's Travel Motivations and Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Systematic Literature Review

Authors

  • Ryan Anward Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
  • Helene Elisabeth Simon Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Tri Haryanto fFaculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20527/jiep.v8i1.2161

Keywords:

generation z, sustainable tourism, travel motivations, eco-friendly travel, systematic literature review

Abstract

The tourism industry is experiencing a transformative shift as the demand for sustainable practices increases, driven significantly by Generation Z. Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, Generation Z is characterized by their digital savviness, social awareness, and environmental consciousness. This systematic literature review (SLR) explores the travel motivations and sustainable tourism practices of Generation Z, synthesizing findings from studies published between 2018 and 2024. Our analysis reveals that Generation Z values personalized and unique travel experiences, cultural immersion, and natural attractions, heavily influenced by social media platforms and digital tools. Despite their strong preference for eco-friendly travel options, there is a notable gap between their environmental attitudes and actual sustainable behaviors. Cross-cultural differences also significantly shape sustainable tourism preferences within Generation Z. This study underscores the need for targeted educational and marketing strategies to bridge this gap and highlights the importance of integrating advanced digital technologies in tourism strategies. The findings provide valuable insights for tourism stakeholders to develop tailored marketing campaigns, sustainable tourism products, and policies that align with Generation Z's values, contributing to the broader academic discourse on sustainable tourism.

References

Bergin-Seers, S., & Mair, J. (2009). Emerging Green Tourists in Australia: Their Behaviours and Attitudes. Tourism and Hospitality Research. https://doi.org/10.1057/thr.2009.5

Butnaru, G. I., Niţă, V., Melinte, C., Anichiti, A., & Brînză, G. (2022). The Nexus between Sustainable Behaviour of Tourists from Generation Z and the Factors That Influence the Protection of Environmental Quality. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912103

Carlisle, S., Ivanov, S., & Dijkmans, C. (2023). The digital skills divide: evidence from the European tourism industry. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2020-0114

Cena, F., Console, L., Likavec, S., Micheli, M., & Vernero, F. (2023). How Personality Traits can be Used to Shape Itinerary Factors in Recommender Systems for Young Travellers. IEEE Access, 11, 61968–61985. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3285258

Chin, S. W. L., Hassan, N. H., & Yong, G. Y. (2023). The new ecotourists of the 21st century: Brunei as a case study. Cogent Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2191444

Confente, I., & Scarpi, D. (2021). Achieving Environmentally Responsible Behavior for Tourists and Residents: A Norm Activation Theory Perspective. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520938875

D’Arco, M., Marino, V., & Resciniti, R. (2023). Exploring the pro-environmental behavioral intention of Generation Z in the tourism context: the role of injunctive social norms and personal norms. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2171049

Dębski, M., & Borkowska-Niszczota, M. (2020). Consumer ecological behaviour and attitudes towards pro-ecological activities in accommodation facilities by generation z. Turyzm/Tourism, 30(2), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.18778/0867-5856.30.2.20

Dragolea, L. L., Butnaru, G. I., Kot, S., Zamfir, C. G., Nuţă, A. C., Nuţă, F. M., … Ştefănică, M. (2023). Determining factors in shaping the sustainable behavior of the generation Z consumer. Frontiers in Environmental Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1096183

Ek Styvén, M., & Foster, T. (2018). Who am I if you can’t see me? The “self” of young travellers as driver of eWOM in social media. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-12-2017-0057

Entina, T., Karabulatova, I., Kormishova, A., Ekaterinovskaya, M., & Troyanskaya, M. (2021). Tourism industry management in the global transformation: Meeting the needs of generation z. Polish Journal of Management Studies. https://doi.org/10.17512/pjms.2021.23.2.08

Giachino, C., Pattanaro, G., Bertoldi, B., Bollani, L., & Bonadonna, A. (2021). Nature-based solutions and their potential to attract the young generations. Land Use Policy, 101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105176

Guo, Y., Jiang, J., & Li, S. (2019). A sustainable tourism policy research review. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113187

Haddouche, H., & Salomone, C. (2018). Generation Z and the tourist experience: tourist stories and use of social networks. Journal of Tourism Futures, 4(1), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-12-2017-0059

Hysa, B., Karasek, A., & Zdonek, I. (2021). Social media usage by different generations as a tool for sustainable tourism marketing in society 5.0 idea. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031018

Ilhan, Ö. A., Balyali, T. Ö., & Günay, S. (2023). A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE TOURIST EXPERIENCE OF GENERATION Z. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research, 11(3), 341–370. https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.1125474

Jiang, Y., & Hong, F. (2023). Examining the relationship between customer-perceived value of night-time tourism and destination attachment among Generation Z tourists in China. Tourism Recreation Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2021.1915621

Kim, E., & Cuskelly, G. (2017). A systematic quantitative review of volunteer management in events. Event Management. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599517X14809630271195

Kossyva, D., Theriou, G., Aggelidis, V., & Sarigiannidis, L. (2023). Definitions and antecedents of engagement: a systematic literature review. Management Research Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-01-2021-0043

Lin, Z. C. J., Wong, I. K. A., Wu, S., Lian, Q. L., & Lin, S. K. (2022). Environmentalists’ citizenship behavior: Gen Zers’ eudaimonic environmental goal attainment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2108042

Liu, J., Wang, C., Zhang, T., & Qiao, H. (2023). Delineating the Effects of Social Media Marketing Activities on Generation Z Travel Behaviors. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221106394

Liu, Z. (2003). Sustainable tourism development: A critique. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580308667216

Lu, P., Weerapaiboon, W., & Lin, C. (2023). Exploring the Environmentally Responsible Behavior of Generations Y and Z from a Cross-Cultural Perspective in the Context of Nature-Based Tourism. Land. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101909

Mandić, A., Walia, S. K., & Rasoolimanesh, S. M. (2023). Gen Z and the flight shame movement: examining the intersection of emotions, biospheric values, and environmental travel behaviour in an Eastern society. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2254950

Manolicǎ, A., Ionesi, D. S., Drǎgan, L. M., Roman, T., Bertea, P. E., & Boldureanu, G. (2022). Tourists’ apprehension toward choosing the next destination: A study based on the learning zone model. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987154

Mezgaile, A., Grinberga, K., Singh, N., & Livina, A. (2021). A study on youth behavior towards the north vidzeme biosphere reserve in latvia. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism. https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v12.5(53).02

Monaco, S. (2018). Tourism and the new generations: emerging trends and social implications in Italy. Journal of Tourism Futures, 4(1), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-12-2017-0053

Nagaj, R., & Žuromskaitė, B. (2023). Young Travellers and Green Travel in the Post-COVID Era. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813822

Nguyen, V. H., Truong, T. X. D., Pham, H. T., Tran, D. T., & Nguyen, P. H. (2021). Travel Intention to Visit Tourism Destinations: A Perspective of Generation Z in Vietnam. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no2.1043

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. The BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

Pan, J. L., Teng, Y. M., Wu, K. S., & Wen, T. C. (2022). Anticipating Z-generation tourists’ green hotel visit intention utilizing an extended theory of planned behavior. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1008705

Pan, S., & Satchabut, T. (2022). Predicting Generation Z’s Travel Intention through Structural Equation Modeling. GMSARN International Journal, 16(3), 232–239. Retrieved from https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85123545704&partnerID=40&md5=0b03705b4921100a713edb662c80e2fb

Paz, M. A., De-La-Sierra, A., Sáez, M., Barceló, M. A., Rodríguez, J. J., Castro, S., … Coll-De-Tuero, G. (2016). Treatment efficacy of anti-hypertensive drugs in monotherapy or combination: ATOM systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials according to PRISMA statement. Medicine (United States). https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000004071

Pinho, M., & Gomes, S. (2023). Generation Z as a critical question mark for sustainable tourism – An exploratory study in Portugal. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2022-0171

Pınar Yalçınkaya, Lütfi Atay, & Halil Korkmaz. (2018). An Evaluation on Smart Tourism. China-USA Business Review. https://doi.org/10.17265/1537-1514/2018.06.004

Pompurová, K., Šimočková, I., & Rialti, R. (2023). Defining domestic destination attractiveness: Gen-Y and Gen-Z perceptions. Current Issues in Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2220953

Popşa, R. E. (2024). Exploring the Generation Z Travel Trends and Behavior. Studies in Business and Economics, 19(1), 189–199. https://doi.org/10.2478/sbe-2024-0010

Prayag, G., Aquino, R. S., Hall, C. M., Chen, N., & Fieger, P. (2022). Is Gen Z really that different? Environmental attitudes, travel behaviours and sustainability practices of international tourists to Canterbury, New Zealand. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2131795

Pricope Vancia, A. P., Băltescu, C. A., Brătucu, G., Tecău, A. S., Chițu, I. B., & Duguleană, L. (2023). Examining the Disruptive Potential of Generation Z Tourists on the Travel Industry in the Digital Age. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118756

Puiu, S., Velea, L., Udristioiu, M. T., & Gallo, A. (2022). A Behavioral Approach to the Tourism Consumer Decisions of Generation Z. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12090320

Robinson, V. M., & Schänzel, H. A. (2019). A tourism inflex: Generation Z travel experiences. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-01-2019-0014

Rushiana, R. A., Sumarna, O., & Anwar, S. (2023). Efforts to Develop Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in Chemistry Learning: Systematic Literature Review. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i3.2632

Schönherr, S., & Pikkemaat, B. (2024). Young peoples’ environmentally sustainable tourism attitude and responsible behavioral intention. Tourism Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-01-2023-0022

Sevastiadou, D., Charatsari, C., & Partalidou, M. (2021). I endorse it, as long as it is sustainable: Generation Z’s involvement with agrotourism and ecotourism. Agricultural Economics Review.

Singh, R., & Sibi, P. S. (2023). E-loyalty formation of Generation Z: Personal characteristics and social influences. Journal of Tourism, Heritage and Services Marketing. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8054004

Stojsavljević, R., Vujičić, M. D., Stankov, U., Stamenković, I., Masliković, D., Carmer, A. B., … Bajić, M. (2023). In Search for Meaning? Modelling Generation Z Spiritual Travel Motivation Scale—The Case of Serbia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065292

Szromek, A. R., Hysa, B., & Karasek, A. (2019). The Perception of Overtourism from the Perspective of Different Generations. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247151

Tănase, M. O., Nistoreanu, P., Dina, R., Georgescu, B., Nicula, V., & Mirea, C. N. (2023). Generation Z Romanian Students’ Relation with Rural Tourism—An Exploratory Study. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108166

Tavares, J. M., Sawant, M., & Ban, O. (2018). A study of the travel preferences of generation Z located in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais - Brazil). E-Review of Tourism Research.

Tourism in the Green Economy – Background Report. (2012). Tourism in the Green Economy – Background Report. https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284414529

Vieira, J., Frade, R., Ascenso, R., Prates, I., & Martinho, F. (2020). Generation Z and key-factors on E-commerce: A study on the Portuguese tourism sector. Administrative Sciences, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci10040103

Wu, G.-M., Chen, S.-R., & Xu, Y.-H. (2023). Generativity and inheritance: understanding Generation Z’s intention to participate in cultural heritage tourism. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 18(4), 465–482. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2023.2178927

Wurzinger, S., & Johansson, M. (2006). Environmental concern and knowledge of ecotourism among three groups of Swedish tourists. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287506291602

Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971

Zaman, U., Koo, I., Abbasi, S., Raza, S. H., & Qureshi, M. G. (2022). Meet Your Digital Twin in Space? Profiling International Expat’s Readiness for Metaverse Space Travel, Tech-Savviness, COVID-19 Travel Anxiety, and Travel Fear of Missing Out. Sustainability (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116441

Zhou, Q., Sotiriadis, M., & Shen, S. (2023). Using TikTok in tourism destination choice: A young Chinese tourists’ perspective. Tourism Management Perspectives, 46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2023.101101

Downloads

Published

31-05-2025

How to Cite

Anward, R., Elisabeth Simon, H., & Tri Haryanto. (2025). Unveiling Generation Z’s Travel Motivations and Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Systematic Literature Review. JIEP: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi Dan Pembangunan, 8(1), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.20527/jiep.v8i1.2161

Issue

Section

Articles