Tourism Policy-Making and Low-Carbon Tourist Behavior: A Focused Review

The global tourism sector’s significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions necessitates urgent decarbonisation, yet business-as-usual growth risks undermining Paris Agreement targets. This focused review examines how tourism policy instruments can shape low-carbon tourist behaviors, including mobility, accommodation choices, and on-site consumption. Analyzing ۲۳ key scholarly sources (۲۰۰۶–۲۰۲۶) via a thematic synthesis approach, this study integrates findings across psychological, infrastructural, and governance dimensions. The results indicate that multi-level policy instruments—combining economic incentives, regulatory standards, infrastructural investments, and behavioral nudges—are critical for bridging the persistent attitude-behavior gap. Evidence suggests that infrastructure-led and incentive-based strategies outperform purely informational tools, while justice-oriented frameworks remain vital for equitable transitions. This review identifies critical research gaps in longitudinal behavioral tracking, policy impact evaluation, and representation of emerging economies. It advances an integrative governance framework, offering actionable implications for governments, destination management organizations, and tourism businesses to foster systemic shifts toward low-carbon travel.

کلیدواژه ها:

low-carbon tourist behavior ، tourism policy instruments ، behavioral governance ، choice architecture ، carbon footprint reduction ، multi-level governance