Recreational landscape perception and pro-environmental behavior: the mediating roles of place identity and pro-environmental behavioral spillover

Introduction Tourism significantly contributes to global economies but also intensifies environmental pressures at destinations. Promoting tourists’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB) is therefore crucial for sustainable tourism. Recreational landscape perception (RLP), a multidimensional and integrative concept, may shape visitors’ emotional connections and subsequent behaviors. However, few studies have examined its combined effects on both place-specific and general PEB, or the underlying psychological pathways. This study applies the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model to investigate how RLP influences PEB through place identity and behavioral spillover. Methods A visitor survey was conducted in Langya Mountain National Forest Park during peak season, yielding 457 valid responses. Recreational landscape perception, place identity, and both place-specific and general PEB were measured using established Likert scales. Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping was applied to test the proposed relationships and mediation effects. Results The results showed that: (a) RLP significantly and positively influences place-specific PEB through place identity; (b) RLP significantly and positively influences general PEB through place identity; and (c) RLP significantly and positively influences general PEB through both place identity and place-specific PEB. Discussion The findings demonstrate that RLP, as a multidimensional perception of destination landscapes, significantly enhances both place-specific and general PEB, with place identity and behavioral spillover acting as key mediators. Theoretically, this study advances the S-O-R framework by integrating natural, cultural, and experiential dimensions of landscape perception into a unified model, and by empirically validating the dual mediation pathway from destination-specific experiences to broader environmental actions. Practically, the results offer evidence-based guidance for sustainable tourism planning-highlighting that enhancing visitors’ holistic landscape experiences can strengthen emotional bonds, stimulate on-site conservation behaviors, and encourage the adoption of eco-friendly habits in daily life.