Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Towards Climate Change Among Tourists: A Systematic Review

Chunlan Guo (), Yang Lyu, Peng Li and IokTeng Esther Kou
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Chunlan Guo: Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Yang Lyu: Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Peng Li: College of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
IokTeng Esther Kou: Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau, China

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-28

Abstract: Climate change has profound impacts on tourists’ travel demands, travel decisions, travel experiences, and the development of the tourism industry. Consequently, understanding tourists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards climate change is important to the future development of tourism. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the existing literature concerning tourists’ KAP towards climate change through a systematic review. A total of 76 articles were included to provide a comprehensive overview of tourists’ KAP towards climate change since the 1950s. This study identified a significant increase in relevant research output in recent years; however, it also found a noticeable geographical bias, with a concentration in Europe and North America. While tourists generally demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and its impact on tourism, they showed a lack of awareness regarding the environmental consequences of air travel and were reluctant to reduce air travel. Most tourists believed that governments should take the lead in addressing climate change, with only a minority recognizing their individual responsibility. Furthermore, the perceived threats of climate change directly influenced tourists’ travel decisions, prompting them to modify their travel plans, posing a challenge for tourist destinations. These findings can guide the development of policies related to climate education and sustainable tourism practices.

Keywords: global warming; sustainable tourism; systematic review; carbon footprint; climate education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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