Shifting tourist travelers to low-carbon transportation: Evidence from Western Australia

This research analyzes tourist mode choices in Western Australia using 883 stated-preference surveys. Using mixed logit and latent class modeling, the study captures tourist travelers' heterogeneous preferences, identifying three distinct market segments: Cost-Driven, Service Quality-Driven, and Objective-Driven. These preferences are evident in responses to factors such as travel cost, journey time, access time, service frequency, and seat comfort. Notably, the study finds that female travelers are more sensitive to flight duration, while elderly travelers are more tolerant of transport accessibility. Targeted reductions in fares, journey times, and access times have been shown to effectively increase bus market share and reduce carbon emissions. These results offer valuable insights for mitigating environmental impacts and improving transport efficiency. The findings also offer strategic guidance for public transport managers to develop low-carbon options tailored to the specific needs of tourists, thereby contributing to the reduction of tourism-related carbon emissions.