Low–Carbon Tourism: Perceptions and Attitudes of Tourists Staying in the Cooperate with Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA)

Abstract

            This paper aims to examine the perceptions and attitudes of tourists who participate in low–carbon tourism projects of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA). Low–carbon tourism is one of DASTA’s aimed to create a balance between economy, society, and environment. The sample survey research was conducted on 718 tourists from all 45 hotels located in the 6 Designated Areas including the designated area of Chang Island and Related Area, Designated Area of Pattaya and Related Area, Designated Area of Sukhothai Historical Park Sri Satchanalai–Kampangpetch, the designated area of Loei, Designated area of Nan and Designated area of U-Thong, during August-September, 2015.

            The overall results show that tourists’ perception and attitude are very positive toward Low–carbon tourism as the Designated Areas have organized campaigns to encourage well-mannered and environmentally friendly tourist behaviour. Multiple Regression analysis shows that older tourists tend to have a better perception of low–carbon tourism. However, neither positive nor negative attitudes affect the perception of low–carbon tourism. The result of this study can be used as baseline information for DASTA to create an improved environmentally friendly project in the future. Low–carbon tourism could help promote sustainable tourism and become new alternative tourism in Thailand.