Evaluating the Effectiveness of Carbon-Neutral Strategies in Tourism Destinations: A Comparative Study of Developing Nations

Abstract This study evaluates the effectiveness of carbon-neutral strategies in tourism destinations across India, Costa Rica, Maldives, and South Africa, which are emerging developing nations of the world. There is animmediate need to mitigate climate change and foster sustainable development;hence the tourism sector in these diverse economies is increasingly adopting various carbon-neutral initiatives. By using mixed-methods approach and combining quantitative analysis of carbon emission data with qualitative observations from policy frameworks and case studies, this research analyses the impact of these strategies across environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Various statistical tools such as Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition, regression analysis, and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), are utilized to analyze trends in carbon intensity, to identify key emission drivers, and to evaluate the efficiency of resource use in achieving carbon neutrality. The findings show various levels of effectiveness, highlighting the critical role of strong governmental policy, innovative private sector engagement, and community-led initiatives in developing sustainable tourism. The study identifies common challenges such as certain data availability and price sensitivity, while proposing tailored policy recommendations for developing nations to accelerate their transition towards a truly carbon-neutral and resilient tourism sector. Keywords: carbon neutral, tourism destination, climate change, SGDs, responsible tourism