Building future tourism environments: towards more eco-efficient destination transportation systems

Transportation is not only a key component of the tourism value chain, it is also a constraint to the sustainable development of tourism. Transportation consumes the greatest portion of energy in the tourism system. Strategies such as shifting visitors to more energy-efficient modes have the potential to improve the eco-efficiency of tourist transportation. This study examined how to successfully shift skiers from private to public modes of transport, using a case study in Whistler, British Columbia. Respondents were recruited for an online survey which employed both traditional and discrete choice survey methods to examine tourists’ transportation choice behaviour. Based on study findings, implications for destination planners are identified. Long-haul tourists are identified as the prime target, and transportation strategies that should be considered by planners are described.