Keywords
Abstract
This research explores the rebuilding of tourism value chains in the context of carbon neutrality, emphasising the shift from linear, resource-dependent models to circular economy systems. Through carbon hotspot analysis, intervention assessment, case studies, stakeholder analysis, and employing a mixed-methods approach, we seek to understand how emission reduction aligned with circular principles can occur in various segments of tourism while sustaining economic and experiential value for visitors. Our results show that the transportation and accommodation sectors offer the highest carbon reduction potential of 65 and 40 tCO2e/year/1000 tourists, respectively, through narrowing resource flow interventions. The effectiveness of circular interventions varies by segment; however, coordinated cross-segment implementation results in 50-70% carbon reduction compared to 15-30% from segment-specific approaches. This research identifies three primary circular strategies—narrowing, slowing, and closing resource flows—with tailored applications across the entire tourism value chain. Circular transitions are made possible by the optimisation and restructuring of business models, which are enabled primarily by digital technologies. This study provides a focal framework for stakeholders to strategically and systematically identify opportunity gaps for interventions, prioritise actions, carve governance frameworks to shape incentives towards interventions that scaffold carbon neutrality targets, thus demonstrating the feasibility of circular approaches in achieving carbon neutrality while enhancing economic outcomes.