The tourism environment is the basis of sustainable development in the tourism economy. Exploring the coupling relationship between tourism economy and ecological environment systems can promote not only ecology-based tourism, but also contribute to the sustainable development of tourism economy. Based on data from Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, from 2010–2019, this paper aims to introduce an indicator system and develop an integrated approach to assess the coupling and coordination between the tourism economy and the environment. The indicator system consists of two levels, six aspects, and eighteen indicators, based on entropy method. A Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model framework of the coupling and coordination mechanism of tourism economy and ecological environment was constructed based on the development status of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. Then, the degree of coupled coordination of its tourism economy and ecological environment is evaluated, providing a comprehensive evaluation index of the system. In conclusion, suggestions for promoting the sustainable development of tourism and environment in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, are proposed. The purpose of this research is to reveal dynamic trends that exist between the coupled development of tourism economy and the ecological environment. A further aim of this paper is to provide a reference for macro policy formulation in small and medium-sized cities regarding the sustainable development of the tourism economic system and ecological environment system.

Korea’s domestic emissions trading scheme commenced in January 2015. It targeted mainly industrial and power sectors, and compelled companies to transform how they manage energy efficiency and mitigate GHGs. This study sets out to explore how Korean companies evaluated their allocation position and engaged in emissions trading in the first compliance period, and to identify their views on trading barriers and policy expectations at the start of emissions trading. Questionnaire surveys and on-site interviews targeting Korean companies under the Korean emissions trading scheme were conducted at the start of operations (February to March 2015) and after the first compliance year (May 2016), respectively. Actual operation results are observed and compared with the survey findings. This study extrapolates implications for policy and presents suggestions for the government and the target companies in terms of how to improve the current emissions trading scheme in order to further stimulate emissions trading. POLICY RELEVANCE This study attempts to bridge the gap between companies and government policy in operating the domestic emission trading scheme in Korea. Empirical results, based on analysis of company-level data, reveal how businesses perceive K-ETS and how this relates to the operating results, which saw only limited trading of surplus emissions taking place in the early phase. Key barriers to active trading identified in the study include supply–demand imbalance, policy uncertainty and lack of preparedness of companies over carbon pricing. These barriers could be addressed by improved transparency of allowance allocation methods, possibly restricting carry-over of surplus allowances, ending policy uncertainty and providing more information to companies that can support companies’ policy understanding of the carbon pricing based on the market mechanism. Targeted companies should proactively participate in emissions trading in the early phase, in order to learn from it and prepare for the future introduction of auctioning.

The relationship between the ecological environment and tourism development is extremely complex. Summarizing evolutionary trends, temporal patterns and spatial differences in time and space can contribute to the coordinated development of an ecological environment and tourism. Based on the Carrying capacity–Supporting capability–Attraction capability–Evolutional capability–Development capability model and the Pressure–State–Response model, this paper proposes a conceptual index system using the entropy weight method and the coupled coordination degree model. The coupling coordination relationship between the ecological environment and tourism development in seven prefectures in the Kyushu region of Japan from 2010 to 2019 was analyzed. Then, using the membership degree model, the coordinated development of each prefecture was further analyzed. The results mainly show that in the Kyushu region, the degree of coupling coordination between the ecological environment and the tourism development system changed from moderate coordination to marginal coordination during the study period, then steadily improved, with large differences between regions. Based on the analysis results, this paper puts forward specific suggestions for the prefectures with lagging tourism development and lagging ecological environment development, respectively, to provide a reference path for the sustainable development of the ecological environment and tourism in the Kyushu region. For prefectures in the ecological environment development lag-type stage, the following requirements were identified: (a) the need for the government to strengthen tourism infrastructures; (b) the need for the government to focus on developing regional ecotourism, focusing on the fragility of island ecosystems and the sustainability of resources in the Kyushu region; (c) the need for the government to scientifically formulate tourism-related policies and plan tourism-related investments. For prefectures in the tourism development lag-type stage, the following were identified: (a) the need for the government to develop a variety of tourism products and create regional tourism brands based on local conditions; (b) prefectures should determine the main tourism functions and themes it offers based on the specifics of their resource advantages.

After the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was put forward, the tourism industry between Azerbaijan and China developed rapidly, and gradually became an important area of cooperation between the two countries to promote economic cooperation, non-governmental exchange, and cultural exchange. However, there is currently a lack of research on the development strategy of tourism cooperation between the two countries under the BRI. This paper aims to explore the development strategy of sustainable tourism cooperation between Azerbaijan and China under BRI through a hybrid model of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). The factor elements of the SWOT matrix introduce ambiguity due to the complex layering of elemental importance. Therefore, the AHP method was used to systematically evaluate the importance of strategic factors and reduce the subjective bias caused by the SWOT analysis method. By constructing the Delphi-AHP-SWOT strategic quadrilateral and calculating the azimuth of the strategy type, the type and intensity map of the tourism cooperation development strategy between Azerbaijan and China under the BRI is drawn. Finally, it is concluded that the development strategy of tourism cooperation between Azerbaijan and China is a pioneering development strategy. Suggestions are given for future development. This paper provides a valuable experience for the sustainable development of tourism cooperation among countries under the BRI.

With the intensification of global warming, the development of low-carbon tourism is not only an inevitable requirement for human development, but also an important way to enhance tourism, improve the quality of tourism, and obtain greater economic and social benefits from tourism. Scientifically and effectively constructing a low-carbon tourism development level evaluation index system is conducive to the healthy and sustainable development of the tourism industry. However, the current evaluation of the development level of low-carbon tourism mainly focuses on low-carbon development, energy conservation, and emission reduction. There are few studies and a lack of specific empirical research evaluating the development of low-carbon tourism. In this research, the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process were used for data collection and corresponding weight analysis. This research refers to the results of existing studies on low-carbon tourism evaluation index systems, and constructs an objective and quantitative evaluation model. It establishes a low-carbon tourism development evaluation model with 34 specific indicators from the three dimensions of the tourism economic support level, the tourism low-carbon development level, and the tourism policy support level. The research results were applied to the Daxinganling region for verification. The results show that the development of tourism in the Daxinganling region has changed from a mode dominated by economic interests to a mode in which tourism-related parties begin to seek effective low-carbon methods to maintain low-carbon tourism activities. In addition, the Daxinganling region has the lowest level of low-carbon tourism development and the highest level of financial support. Based on the research conclusions, corresponding suggestions for the development of low-carbon tourism in the Daxinganling region are provided. The results are also intended to provide a reference point in the optimization of low-carbon tourism development models in this and other regions.

In response to the domestic emission trading scheme, Korean companies are required to shift their strategies from voluntary or regulation-driven management approaches to innovative carbon management utilizing their carbon option linked with economic value. Using a questionnaire survey targeting companies subjected to the emission trading scheme, this study explores the status of Korean companies’ carbon management in a series of five strategies and identifies the correlation between companies’ proactive carbon strategies and pre-listed determinant factors. This study found that Korean companies’ practices in accordance with carbon pricing deviate little from conventional energy and environmental management in this phase. They are likely to be affected by the need to appear socially responsible or to make a social contribution, without having to exceed this mandate in terms activities outside of this remit. Yet, only a small proportion of companies have advanced to the stage of proactive carbon management. For them, top managers’ support and understanding are essential factors together with government pressure to factor-in issues related to carbon with their business strategies. This study provides implications for policy and corporate in promoting carbon-oriented management under the carbon policy.