Research on the Impact of Environmental Regulation on the Environmental Responsibility Behavior of Residents in Grassland Tourist Areas: A Case Study of Inner Mongolia

Abstract

With the intensifying global environmental issues, environmental regulation has become a critical means for governments to promote sustainable development. This paper focuses on the grassland pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia to explore the impact of environmental regulation on the environmental responsibility behavior of local residents in tourist areas. The study background indicates that Inner Mongolia boasts abundant grassland resources and unique ethnic culture, forming the basis for rapid tourism development. However, the growth of tourism has also imposed significant environmental pressures. Thus, examining how environmental regulation can enhance residents' environmental responsibility behavior holds both theoretical and practical significance. This paper first systematically reviews theories and research progress related to environmental regulation and environmental responsibility behavior, laying a theoretical foundation for the study. Based on this, through literature review and field research, it deeply analyzes the current status and challenges of environmental regulation in Inner Mongolia’s grassland pastoral tourist areas. The study finds that government regulatory measures and residents' engagement in pastoral areas directly influence residents' environmental responsibility behavior. The empirical analysis details how environmental regulation affects residents' environmental awareness and practical behaviors. Field research in Inner Mongolia’s grassland areas reveals that environmental education and legal regulation effectively enhance residents’ environmental responsibility awareness, while participatory management and community development play vital roles in fostering responsible environmental behavior among residents. The article concludes with a discussion of the findings and provides policy recommendations to assist the government in formulating more effective environmental regulatory policies.