Abstract This paper aims to analyze the status and the progress of low-carbon tourism through literature studies. The result shows that, firstly, domestic low-carbon tourism researches are still in the primary stage at present, so there is little relevant references which is mostly news reports. Moreover, domestic studies usually are adopted qualitative approach to conduct researches on low-carbon tourism in macro view and focus on the way of realization.Secondly, compared with domestic researches of low-carbon tourism, foreign researches are relatively abundant. Many developed countries are keeping close watch on low-carbon tourism development, and official statistics are full and accurate. Using questionnaire survey, interviews, constructing models and other research methods, researchers can collect a series of information that not exist in official database. The differences between domestic researches and foreign researches are that foreign studies focus on measuring carbon emissions of tourism sectors, tourist destinations and tourist activities. In addition, some studies analyzing the influence of tourist carbon emissions on climate by empirical research, top-down analysis and bottom-up analysis. Finally, based on the examining of research progress, contents and methods of low-carbon tourism, the authors conclude that low-carbon tourism development not only needs to rely on itself, but also needs rely on many related industries and sectors. Therefore, this paper argues that the future development in low-carbon tourism in China should be depending on close cooperation of the government, organizations, enterprises and departments. So, the related supports of policy, economy, and technology are needed, and the joint efforts of the government, the tourism industry and the tourists are also needed. It is important to strengthen the function of the government in guiding a healthy development of low-carbon tourism. Tourist department also should establish a scientific and rational effective system of low-carbon estimation, and in this way, ‘low-carbon’ scenic spots will be established. Also, the authors point out that low-carbon tourism developing experience in China is very limited. So, the international communication and cooperation to explore a suitable mode for China's national conditions should be paid more attention to.
2010, Vol. 25 
