Mobility Z
Business, Management and Services
Tourism accounts for 5–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 75% of CO₂ linked to travel to and from destinations. It contributes to climate change both directly through emissions and indirectly through land use for infrastructure. In turn, climate change affects tourism via extreme weather and altered travel conditions. Generation Z (born 1995–2010), now about one-third of the global population, is becoming a key force in sustainable tourism. Yet, little is known about their values and mobility habits. A gap exists between Gen Z’s climate awareness and actual travel behavior, especially on holidays. Studies show that people often relax sustainability norms when vacationing, viewing it as a break from everyday responsibilities. This phenomenon is known as the home-away-gap.
To minimize the negative environmental effects based on the home-away gap, it is important to make tourism and especially mobility management more sustainable. Therefore this research project aims to understand much better the values and behaviour patterns of the Generation Z. This project aims to make a contribution to the literature on mobility management and sustainability by analysing the professional and private mobility patterns and perspectives of the Generation Z on the sustainability aspects of mobility within the DACH Region (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland).
Particularly this research project has been designed to
- understand respondents' perspectives and values on the climate aspect of mobility based on their socio-demographic background
- obtain a detailed picture of professional and private mobility patterns and perspectives of the Generation Z
- provide a country comparison overview (DACH region) of the awareness and perceived development of sustainable mobility infrastructure and management. This research project Mobility Z will create insights and a further agenda for the implementation of sustainable travel and tourism for the DACH region and beyond.
This project receives funding from the RCSO Economics & Management program of HES-SO.