Title: BEYOND LUXURY CAMPING: RETHINKING GLAMPING FOR LOW-CARBON TOURISM TRANSITIONS

Authors: Gratia Wirata Laksmi*, Myrza Rahmanita, Hera Oktadiana and Rahmat Ingkadijaya

Abstract: This article rethinks glamping beyond its conventional framing as luxury camping by examining its potential contribution to low-carbon tourism transitions. Using a literature study approach, this paper synthesizes selected studies on glamping, sustainable accommodation, carbon footprint assessment, low-carbon tourism, climate change mitigation, and accommodation-related barriers. The findings indicate that glamping may contribute to low-carbon tourism transitions through four main pathways: low-impact design, sustainable material use, low-carbon operations, and low-carbon guest experience. These pathways suggest that glamping can support carbon reduction when its structures, materials, daily operations, and visitor experiences are aligned with low-carbon principles. However, the review also identifies several barriers that may limit the development of glamping as a credible low-carbon accommodation model, including conceptual ambiguity, limited carbon measurement, operational resource intensity, limited managerial and operational capacity, and greenwashing risk. The article argues that glamping should not be assumed to be sustainable simply because it is in natural environments. Instead, its low-carbon contribution depends on measurable and accountable practices. This study contributes to sustainable tourism literature by positioning glamping as a potential low-carbon accommodation model rather than merely an experiential or luxury-oriented tourism product. Future research should empirically assess the carbon footprint of glamping sites and develop practical indicators for measuring low-carbon glamping performance.

Keywords: Glamping; low-carbon tourism; sustainable accommodation; tourism carbon footprint; low-carbon tourism transition.

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