Do tourists’ responsible behaviors shape their local food consumption intentions? An examination via the theory of planned behavior

Purpose The primary purpose of this study is to reveal how the local food consumption intentions of international tourists are influenced by core variables of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The secondary purpose is to explore the moderating role of responsible tourist behavior in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach The present research was conducted on international tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey. The research data, collected from a total of 457 respondents, were tested and analyzed via partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings Attitudes toward local food and perceived behavioral control have a positive and significant impact on local food consumption intention. Also, responsible tourist behavior has a moderating effect on both the relationship between attitude toward local food and local food consumption intention and the relationship between subjective norms and local food consumption intention. Practical implications In their advertising campaigns, destination management organizations (DMOs) and local restaurants should prepare more sentimental advertising content by further focusing on nonrenewable limited resources of the destination and addressing tourists’ role in consuming the limited resources in question. Thus, tourists’ sense of responsibility toward destinations may be increased, possibly stimulating enhancement in their local food consumption intentions. Originality/value This study explores the role of responsible tourist behavior in the construct of local food consumption through the lens of TPB. Said construct was included in the local food consumption intention model. This endeavor has paved the way for unraveling the interaction between responsible tourist behavior, attitudes and subjective norms, all of which are fundamental elements of the TPB toward increasing local food consumption intentions. This constitutes a remarkable contribution in understanding the local food consumption behavior of tourists. Moreover, because local food will be consumed in local restaurants located in the destinations, understanding the local food consumption intentions of tourists will enable local restaurants to develop innovative products by focusing on local food.