Catalysing sustainable tourism: The case of Chiang Mai, Thailand

This case study describes the implementation of a non-motorised transport (NMT) system in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as a strategy to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and address the environmental strains caused by rapid urban growth and tourism.

• Chiang Mai implemented a non-motorised transport (NMT) system to combat the environmental impacts of rapid growth and tourism, including air and water pollution, waste management issues, and traffic congestion, while aiming to lower greenhouse gas emissions and provide jobs for the urban poor.
• The NMT initiative provides multiple co-benefits beyond climate mitigation, specifically addressing air quality, traffic congestion, income generation for the poor, and the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry.
• While the sustainable urban tourism project served as a catalyst for broader low-carbon actions and sustainable land-use practices in the city, it highlights a trade-off where local initiatives cannot address the emissions generated by tourists traveling to the destination.

APA

Kusakabe, K., Shrestha, P., Kumar, S., & Suwanprik, T. (2014). Catalysing sustainable tourism: The case of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/resource/sustainable-tourism-thailand

Chicago

Kusakabe, Kyoko, Pujan Shrestha, S. Kumar, and Trinnawat Suwanprik. Catalysing sustainable tourism: The case of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014. https://cdkn.org/resource/sustainable-tourism-thailand.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kusakabe |first1=Kyoko |last2=Shrestha |first2=Pujan |last3=Kumar |first3=S. |last4=Suwanprik |first4=Trinnawat |title=Catalysing sustainable tourism: The case of Chiang Mai, Thailand |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=23 May 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/sustainable-tourism-thailand |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kusakabe2014catalysing, author = {Kusakabe, Kyoko and Shrestha, Pujan and Kumar, S. and Suwanprik, Trinnawat}, title = {{Catalysing sustainable tourism: The case of Chiang Mai, Thailand}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/sustainable-tourism-thailand}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }