Toward a low-carbon tourism for sustainable development: a study based on a royal project for highland community development in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Abstract

Sustainable development of a community needs to be balanced in all dimensions. Global warming and climate change from human emissions can affect the development of communities including highland communities in Chiang Rai, Thailand in terms of human life, growth and yield of plants and animals. This research presents low-carbon tourism for the sustainable development of the rural highland community in Chiang Rai, Thailand by integrating economic, social and environmental objectives in community development for sustainability. This research is carried out through funding of a royal project and is based on mixed research methodology incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques in different stages including, ethnographic delphi future research, in-depth interview and observation. The study evaluates the community development levels standard and indicators for enhancing the community's economic development such as low carbon tourism development through analyzing the available resources and the Royal Project initiatives through education, meeting and discussion. The result shows its impact on four dimensions of development as 1. environmentally friendly agriculture; 2. forest restoration and conservation; 3. community health management; and 4. community strength to support change, to develop into sustainable low carbon highland communities. The results of this research can be used as a guideline for a sustainable low-carbon community development and also to evaluate criteria, indicators, as well as developmental steps for preparing and evaluating community development levels for certification of community development standards into low-carbon sustainable areas.

Tourism Village Carbon Footprint after COVID-19 Pandemic: A Challenge to Sustainability

“…There is no doubt that Tourism Villages have contributed large CO 2 emissions by the tourist attractions which were the main business of the seven Tourism Villages in Indonesia considered in this study, as well as in the heritage sites of Yogyakarta Special Region in Indonesia and also the Wulingyuan Scenic/Historic Interest Area (WSHIA) and Guizhou ethnic locations in China [11][12][13]. For the new concept of low-carbon tourism to be implemented to increase the wealth of the tourism industry's actors [7][8][9][10], several actions in low-carbon approaches are a necessity. Lessons learned about proper waste management from tourism areas of Madeira Island, Portugal [18] and Coachella Valley, California, USA [19] will be valuable to the Tourism Villages, which have large numbers of visitors and populations, as in Dieng Kulon Tourism Village.…”

“…This indicates that a change of paradigm is needed, due to individual awareness, attitudes, capacity to change, as well as social alterations such as the cultures and environments in Tourism Villages. Furthermore, a social education of low-carbon habits was necessary for achieving better environmental qualities (cleaner, healthier, and sustainable), indicating that the community should lead health management, create societal strength, and develop a sustainable Tourism Village [7]. The stakeholders (government, tourism village's community, population, tourists or visitors) of Tourism Village development should also be involved in implementing low-carbon sustainability [13].…”

“…Since this emission is being produced by tourism activities, several reduction actions should be implemented in maintaining sustainable development towards a low-carbon economy [6]. This economy has been developed towards a new concept of low-carbon tourism based on sustainability [7][8][9][10]. The carbon footprint of tourism is known as the direct emission of exploratory activities and embodiments within the tourists' purchased commodities, such as transportation, fuel, food, accommodation (hotels, guest houses, homestays, etc.…”

Low-carbon tourism: determining domestic tourist perception from Thailand: Tourism Agenda 2030

“…LCT is an emerging concept proposed in 2009 (Bhaktikul, 2021). It aims to deal with the challenges of carbon-intensive tourism activities (Hsiao, 2016).…”

Antecedents and loyalty of tourists visiting secondary cities in provinces in southern Thailand

“…Thai economic development is heavily based on the tourism industry as the revenue generated from tourism industry has vital importance for Thailand's economy. This industry promoting the economic development of Thailand through different ways (Bhaktikul, Aroonsrimorakot, Laiphrakpam, & Paisantanakij, 2021;Yodsuwan et al, 2019). The revenue generated from this industry contributing to the wellbeing of the people and this industry providing several employment opportunities for the people.…”