DEVELOPMENT OF BETONG TOURISM PRODUCTS TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRAL TOURISM

Abstract

The tourism industry contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the development of low-carbon tourism has become increasingly important as a foundation for achieving carbon neutrality in the tourism sector. This mixed-methods study aimed to: (1) assess the travel behavior and needs of high-value tourists toward tourism products in Betong; (2) evaluate the potential of Betong’s tourism products in relation to those needs; and (3) develop tourism products for Betong based on a low-carbon tourism approach. The sample consisted of 398 high-value tourists, 30 key informants, and eight evaluators of the prototype tourism program. Research instruments included a questionnaire, a semi-structured interview guide based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) framework, and the TGO Carbon Footprint for Event program. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Welch’s independent-samples t-test, and content analysis. The findings revealed that: (1) high-value tourists preferred environmentally responsible tourism products across four dimensions, namely accommodation, activities, food, and souvenirs; (2) Betong’s tourism products demonstrated strengths in local resources and destination identity but lacked well-established sustainability management systems; and (3) the study developed a prototype tourism program entitled Betong Low Carbon 3 Days 2 Nights based on the Adjust–Reduce–Offset approach. The prototype generated total greenhouse gas emissions of 0.35 tonnes CO₂e (approximately 0.04 tonnes CO₂e per person) and required 1 tCO₂e of carbon credits to offset unavoidable emissions. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing tourism products in Betong based on a low-carbon tourism approach at the local level, providing a practical foundation for achieving carbon-neutral tourism in the future.