Catalysing Sustainable Tourism: The Case of Chiang Mai, Thailand (Inside Stories on Climate Compatible Development)

Authors :
Kyoko Kusakabe, Pujan Shrestha, S. Kumar, Trinnawat Suwanprik

The city of Chiang Mai, Thailand has launched the non-motorised transport (NMT) system, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create employment opportunities for people living in urban poverty. This case study explores how the NMT plan was developed, what characteristics of the planning process influenced its outcome, and what lessons the City of Chiang Mai has learned about climate compatible development planning as a result. Key messages of the study include that climate mitigation comes with co-benefits for local development, including addressing traffic congestion, air quality, income generation for people living in poverty and the long-term viability of the tourism industry. The paper highlights some of the tensions around ‘green tourism’, including that local initiatives may address emissions in situ, but not the emissions produced by tourists as they travel to the area.

This summary was prepared by Eldis.

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