Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain

Abstract In addition to having significant effects on social and environmental aspects, tourism is essential to the global economy. In this regard, tourism is a remarkable factor that should be considered in the pursuit of sustainable development. Among the influencing factors in this sector, visito...

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Main Authors: Joana Longo-Sarachaga, María del Carmen Paradinas Márquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01433-0
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author Joana Longo-Sarachaga
María del Carmen Paradinas Márquez
author_facet Joana Longo-Sarachaga
María del Carmen Paradinas Márquez
author_sort Joana Longo-Sarachaga
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In addition to having significant effects on social and environmental aspects, tourism is essential to the global economy. In this regard, tourism is a remarkable factor that should be considered in the pursuit of sustainable development. Among the influencing factors in this sector, visitors are most notable. In accordance with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) requirements for more sustainable tourism, this study attempts to describe the ideal consumer profile of sustainable visitors. Spain was chosen as a case study since it is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Centennials were identified as potential tourism consumers using a mixed methodology comprising a literature review, content analysis and a questionnaire distributed among 120 scholars from Spanish institutions. Each generation consumer’s profile differs significantly from the others. Results indicated that the impact of WTO standards in encouraging more environmentally friendly travel is debatable.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Springer
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series Discover Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-9d9c00b779f248ee90b6aa13c5b03c4d2025-08-20T04:01:25ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-07-016112210.1007/s43621-025-01433-0Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in SpainJoana Longo-Sarachaga0María del Carmen Paradinas Márquez1Universidad Complutense de MadridESIC UniversityAbstract In addition to having significant effects on social and environmental aspects, tourism is essential to the global economy. In this regard, tourism is a remarkable factor that should be considered in the pursuit of sustainable development. Among the influencing factors in this sector, visitors are most notable. In accordance with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) requirements for more sustainable tourism, this study attempts to describe the ideal consumer profile of sustainable visitors. Spain was chosen as a case study since it is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Centennials were identified as potential tourism consumers using a mixed methodology comprising a literature review, content analysis and a questionnaire distributed among 120 scholars from Spanish institutions. Each generation consumer’s profile differs significantly from the others. Results indicated that the impact of WTO standards in encouraging more environmentally friendly travel is debatable.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01433-0Sustainable tourismBoomersGen XMillennialsGen ZConsumer profile
spellingShingle Joana Longo-Sarachaga
María del Carmen Paradinas Márquez
Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
Discover Sustainability
Sustainable tourism
Boomers
Gen X
Millennials
Gen Z
Consumer profile
title Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
title_full Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
title_fullStr Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
title_full_unstemmed Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
title_short Profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in Spain
title_sort profiling sustainable visitors to boost sustainable tourism in spain
topic Sustainable tourism
Boomers
Gen X
Millennials
Gen Z
Consumer profile
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01433-0
work_keys_str_mv AT joanalongosarachaga profilingsustainablevisitorstoboostsustainabletourisminspain
AT mariadelcarmenparadinasmarquez profilingsustainablevisitorstoboostsustainabletourisminspain