arbiter
JournalsAccount

Negotiating Ethics: How Gen Z Tourists Balance Moral Intentions and Practical Limits?

Siamak Seyfi

International Journal of Tourism Research2026https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70205article
AJG 2ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Research on Gen Z often presents them as ethically conscious consumers, yet little is known about how moral intentions translate into practice under real constraints. Existing studies seldom address how economic limits, emotional strain, and social expectations shape the contradictions of ethical and political consumption among this cohort. This study examines these issues through semi‐structured interviews with a sample of Gen Z tourists in a developed country context, framed by lifestyle politics and generational cohort theory. Findings show that while participants voiced strong concern for sustainability, human rights, and responsible travel, their actions were often restricted by cost, time, fatigue, and limited access to ethical options. Ethical consumption emerged as negotiated and inconsistent rather than coherent or habitual. By linking individual choices to structural and emotional conditions, the study advances understanding of lifestyle politics and argues that encouraging ethical tourism among youth requires systemic support beyond individual moral commitment.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70205

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{siamak2026,
  title        = {{Negotiating Ethics: How Gen Z Tourists Balance Moral Intentions and Practical Limits?}},
  author       = {Siamak Seyfi},
  journal      = {International Journal of Tourism Research},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70205},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Negotiating Ethics: How Gen Z Tourists Balance Moral Intentions and Practical Limits?

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.