Low-carbon tourism approach as an alternative form for tourism development: a review for model development

• Main Authors: Che Leh, Fauziah, Mohd Isa, Nor Kalsum, Ibrahim, Mohd Hairy, Ibrahim, Mansor, Mohd Yunos, Mohd Yazid, Ibrahim, Johan Afendi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2021
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94054/1/19%20JSSH-8253-2021.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94054/; http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/regular-issue?article=JSSH-8253-2021
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the gross domestic product of several countries, including Malaysia. However, recent tourism growth has led to increase the industry’s carbon dioxide (CO2). Low-carbon tourism, therefore, needs to be introduced to the sector to help curb global climate change. A comprehensive understanding of low-carbon tourism needs to be developed to achieve this goal. This article looks at the relevant studies in the literature using content analysis. By adopting a qualitative methodology, the article collected and assessed measurements of tourism’s carbon emissions and examined the effects of implementing a low-carbon tourism programme. Some of the low-carbon strategies were listed by going through the entire implementation process of low-carbon tourism as an alternative form of tourism development. The discussion also focuses on how Covid-19 can influence low-carbon tourism development. A blueprint for a low-carbon recovery proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is also presented at the end of the paper. The results of this study can be used as a basis for policy development and further research on low-carbon tourism in industry sub-sectors worldwide.