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Sustainability
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The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability
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The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 5241

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mateusz Rozmiarek

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Interests: physical culture sciences; sports tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mateusz Grajek

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Interests: public health; clinical psychology; health psychology; stress; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In an era of heightened environmental awareness, the intersection of recreation, green tourism, and sustainability has become increasingly significant. This Special Issue delves into how eco-friendly traveling and nature-based tourism are reshaping our approach to leisure and sport activities. The core of this transformation lies in adopting practices that not only enhance outdoor recreation but also foster environmental health promotion through sustainable management.

Eco-friendly traveling is redefining the tourism industry by emphasizing low-impact, responsible travel practices that benefit both the environment and local communities. Nature-based tourism, which focuses on exploring natural landscapes, inherently supports conservation efforts and promotes a deeper connection between individuals and their surroundings. This connection is further strengthened by community engagement and volunteering, where both residents and tourists actively participate in environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives.

Sustainable leisure and sport activities play a crucial role in this paradigm shift. By integrating principles of sustainability into these activities, we can minimize their ecological footprint while maximizing their positive impact on environmental health. The issue aims to explore these themes comprehensively, offering insights into how innovative practices in recreation and tourism can align with the broader goals of environmental sustainability and community well-being.

We encourage the submission of original research articles and reviews covering various areas, including but not limited to the following:

  • Eco-friendly traveling;
  • Nature-based tourism;
  • Sustainable leisure and sport activities;
  • Community engagement;
  • Volunteer support for sustainability;
  • Public and environmental health promotion;
  • Mental health balance;
  • Psycho-ecology and eco-relaxation;
  • Outdoor recreation and well-being;
  • Green management practices.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and insights on these important research areas.

Prof. Dr. Mateusz Rozmiarek
Prof. Dr. Mateusz Grajek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eco-tourism
  • sustainable leisure
  • sport activities
  • volunteering
  • green management
  • health promotion
  • responsible tourism
  • well-being practices
  • psycho-ecology
  • outdoor recreation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 512 KiB  
Article
Corporate Social Responsibility Perception and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the Saudi Banking Sector: The Mediating Role of Person–Corporate Social Responsibility Fit
by Suad Dukhaykh and Khlood Alshahrani
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 6063; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136063 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 273
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of internal and external corporate social responsibility perception (CSRP) on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and the mediating effect of person–corporate social responsibility fit (P-CSR Fit) among staff members in Saudi Arabia’s banking [...] Read more.
The main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of internal and external corporate social responsibility perception (CSRP) on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and the mediating effect of person–corporate social responsibility fit (P-CSR Fit) among staff members in Saudi Arabia’s banking industry. The existing literature offers limited exploration of mechanisms that enhance CSR effectiveness in influencing OCB. This study explores the mediating impact of P-CSR Fit on OCB, particularly within the developing country context of Saudi Arabia. A sample of 200 employees from banks in Saudi Arabia was surveyed to investigate these relationships, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Both SPSS and AMOS were utilized to assess the relationships and test the hypotheses within structural equation modeling. The study findings reveal that P-CSR Fit fully mediates the relationship between internal CSRP and OCB. However, external P-CSR Fit does not mediate the relationship between external CSRP and OCB. The discussion includes theoretical and practical implications, as well as study limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability)
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13 pages, 304 KiB  
Article
VFR Travel: A Sustainable Visitor Segment?
by Elisa Zentveld
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125558 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Tourism’s impact on the physical environment has been discussed for almost 50 years. Tourism components, such as transport, accommodation, and consumption of activities, consume energy. However, little is known about whether particular visitor segments consume less energy, as the general focus tends to [...] Read more.
Tourism’s impact on the physical environment has been discussed for almost 50 years. Tourism components, such as transport, accommodation, and consumption of activities, consume energy. However, little is known about whether particular visitor segments consume less energy, as the general focus tends to be on tourism in its entirety. Yet, some forms of tourism generate more carbon emissions than other types. Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel presents characteristics that could make it a suitable segment for destinations to consider targeting. This conceptual research article considers VFR travel through a sustainable tourism lens. This research aimed to examine the profiles and characteristics of VFR travel to understand whether and to what extent VFR travel may be a segment that has a comparatively lower impact on the environment. As a conceptual research article, it offers a theoretical foundation for empirical studies through introducing new ideas and creating a conceptual framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability)
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15 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Forest Utilization Patterns to Improve Life Satisfaction and Policy Directions
by Mijin Lee and Jeonghee Lee
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083689 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 309
Abstract
Interest in the balance between work and life and improving the quality of life is expected to steadily increase the number of users of forest welfare facilities. In this study, the “2023 Forest Recreation and Welfare Activity Survey” was used to analyze how [...] Read more.
Interest in the balance between work and life and improving the quality of life is expected to steadily increase the number of users of forest welfare facilities. In this study, the “2023 Forest Recreation and Welfare Activity Survey” was used to analyze how characteristics of forest visits, such as visit frequency, the number of visited areas, expenditures, and the presence of companion animals, affect life satisfaction based on three visit types: daily (less than 4 h), day (more than 4 h), and overnight (more than 1 night). A hierarchical regression of 9437 respondents revealed that age, occupation, education, spouse, children, household income, and type of residence, excluding sex, were significantly correlated with life satisfaction. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that for daily visitors, both visit frequency and companion animals increased life satisfaction. For day visitors, visit frequency, the number of visited areas, expenditures, and companion animals enhanced life satisfaction. For overnight visitors, visit frequency and expenditures positively impacted life satisfaction. Across all visit types, the frequency of forest visits consistently increased life satisfaction. This study statistically clarified how the characteristics of each visit type affect life satisfaction. The findings provide foundational data for future policies and research on forest recreation and welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability)
14 pages, 433 KiB  
Article
Research Trends in Sports Volunteering: A Focus on Polish Contributions to Global Knowledge
by Mateusz Rozmiarek
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8412; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198412 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1646
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed a growing academic interest in sports volunteering, recognizing its critical role in the effective organization and sustainability of sporting events. This study aims to systematically review the scope and outcomes of research conducted by Polish scholars on sports volunteering, [...] Read more.
Recent years have witnessed a growing academic interest in sports volunteering, recognizing its critical role in the effective organization and sustainability of sporting events. This study aims to systematically review the scope and outcomes of research conducted by Polish scholars on sports volunteering, accessible to an international audience. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to structure the assessment. The analysis covers studies published between 2014 and 2022, evaluating their contributions to the understanding of volunteer motivation, event management, and the integration of sustainability practices within the context of sports events. The findings not only provide insights into the current state of research on sports volunteering in Poland but also highlight potential future research directions, particularly concerning the sustainability of volunteer engagement in sports event management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability)
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Review

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26 pages, 2821 KiB  
Review
Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Outdoor Recreation: Insights from Visitor and Business Perspectives
by Didem Kutlu, Murad Alpaslan Kasalak and Mehmet Bahar
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083400 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1697
Abstract
Tourism and recreation are critical components of global economies and are significantly impacted by climate change due to their climate-dependent nature. This study aimed to assess the effects of climate change on outdoor recreation within the tourism sector, as perceived by stakeholders and [...] Read more.
Tourism and recreation are critical components of global economies and are significantly impacted by climate change due to their climate-dependent nature. This study aimed to assess the effects of climate change on outdoor recreation within the tourism sector, as perceived by stakeholders and tourists, through a systematic review. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database was conducted, resulting in a systematic review of 42 publications that met the inclusion–exclusion criteria out of a total of 226 publications published between 2007 and 2024. The comprehensive analysis identified four primary themes: vulnerability, adaptation, climate change perception, and tourist behavior. The USA emerges as the most researched country, followed by the UK, Germany, and France. The predominant research methods include regression analysis (37.2%) and thematic analysis (20.9%). Coping behaviors regarding climate change are influenced by various factors, such as geography, participant expertise, the type of activity, and the development levels of countries. Tourists adopt locational, temporal, strategic, activity substitution, and informational coping strategies in response to climate change. Conversely, businesses face challenges like reservation cancellations and mitigate global warming effects by modifying activities and adjusting routes due to rising water levels and drought. Adaptation projects are categorized into research–education, management, policy, behavior change, structural, and technical solutions. Implementing diversification strategies enables businesses to enhance their resilience and reduce environmental vulnerabilities. Additionally, raising awareness among visitors about the consequences of climate change is essential in fostering responsible behavior and promoting sustainable practices. The analysis reveals the lack of a holistic perspective in tourism studies, highlighting the need for projects that involve all stakeholders and support undeveloped and developing countries. Furthermore, it was observed that the perspectives of employees and residents were inadequately addressed in the studies examined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Convergence of Recreation, Green Tourism and Environmental Sustainability)
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