This project is based on the principles of behavioural economics, which will be applied in the study of cognitive biases in the perception and decisions of tourists and local residents, in the context of environmental and social sustainability of tourism. A better understanding of cognitive biases and decision-making mechanisms represents untapped potential for increasing the effectiveness of measures and policies that support sustainable tourism development. During this project we will systematically examine the potential of affective components of attitude in promoting pro-environmental behaviour, i.e., voluntary carbon offsetting. We will also study the existence of cognitive biases in the consideration of voluntary carbon offsets and the preferences of tourists towards the attributes of carbon offsetting programs. Cognitive biases also exist in other aspects of tourism experience, and in this project we will analyse cognitive biases that can potentially explain the negligible importance of the subjective or objective use level of the protected natural area on visitor satisfaction. Methodological guidelines will be defined to mitigate the risk of distorted valuation of ecosystem services, which will enable the creation of a better information basis for managing protected natural areas. Croatian destinations are increasingly facing the problems of overtourism, which not only poses risks for the environment, but also creates risks for the well-being of the local population. Existing research indicates that there is a high risk of a number of cognitive biases when making a decision on supporting tourism, which should be investigated in more detail. By creating a methodological framework that enables a better understanding of the (ir)rationality in the residents' decisions to support tourism development, this project will support the formation of tourism development policies that promote the long-term well-being of the local population.

Key words: tourism sustainability, behavioural economics, cognitive biases, carbon offsets, overtourism, choice experiment

Implementation period: 16th December 2024 - 15th December 2027

Total project value:  81.000,00 €

Partners:

• Faculty of Economics ąnd Business, University of Zagreb
• Institute for tourism
• Faculty of science Split
• Šibenik University of Applied Sciences
• Catholic University of Croatia

More information about the project can be found at: https://www.croris.hr/projekti/projekt/11935