Decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from the travel and tourism sector unveiled by WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) 24th Global Summit, held in Perth, Australia, has shed light on the significant environmental impact of the travel and tourism sector. According to the WTTC's 2023 Environmental & Social Research report, the sector accounted for 6.5% of all global emissions in 2023, a decrease from 7.8% in 2019 [1].
The report underscores the urgent need to balance tourism growth with environmental sustainability. Increasing tourist arrivals contribute to resource depletion, waste generation, and higher emissions. To address this, the report proposes several strategies to reduce carbon emissions in Travel & Tourism [2].
One of the strategies is investing in greener infrastructure and technology. This includes more efficient transport and energy use to lower the carbon footprint of travel services [3]. Another strategy is fostering a more inclusive workforce and promoting responsible tourism practices that respect environmental and cultural heritage [3].
The report also emphasises the importance of reinvesting tourism revenues into environmental projects and sustainable destination management. This approach is seen as more effective than relying solely on tourist taxes, which have limitations and unintended effects [4].
Implementing strategic planning frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability, and community involvement is another key strategy. These frameworks are designed to manage overcrowding and preserve natural resources [4].
The WTTC's report calls for a multi-faceted approach combining innovation, policy, investment, and community collaboration to reduce Travel & Tourism’s carbon footprint while sustaining the sector’s positive economic and social outcomes [1][3][5].
The report also reveals that the sector's economic contribution is growing faster than its environmental impact. In 2023, Travel & Tourism's contribution to global GDP almost reached pre-pandemic levels at US$9.9TN, just 4% shy of the sector's peak [6].
Moreover, the sector's reliance on fossil fuel energy sources dropped to 88.2% from 90% in 2019, while the share of low-carbon energy sources increased from 5.1% in 2019 to 5.9% in 2023 [7]. This shift towards cleaner energy sources is reflected in the 10.2% decrease in GHG intensity (emissions per unit of GDP) during this period [7].
The WTTC encourages governments to reinvest additional revenues from the Travel & Tourism sector in decarbonising infrastructure, supporting businesses in their green transition, and expanding renewable energy sources [3][8].
The full report on "Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment: The Impacts of COVID-19" is available on the Research Hub [9].
[1] WTTC (2023) WTTC’s 2023 Environmental & Social Research report. Retrieved from https://www.wttc.org/research-and-insights/research-hub/ [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid. [6] Ibid. [7] Ibid. [8] WTTC (2023) Governments urged to reinvest additional revenues from the Travel & Tourism sector in decarbonising infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.wttc.org/news/governments-urged-to-reinvest-additional-revenues-from-the-travel-tourism-sector-in-decarbonising-infrastructure [9] WTTC (2023) The full report on "Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment: The Impacts of COVID-19" is available on the Research Hub. Retrieved from https://www.wttc.org/research-and-insights/research-hub/
- To decrease the carbon footprint of the Travel & Tourism sector, it's crucial to invest in greener infrastructure and technology, which involves more efficient transport and energy use [3].
- The World Travel & Tourism Council's report emphasizes the need for reinvesting tourism revenues into environmental projects and sustainable destination management, as this approach is considered more effective than relying solely on tourist taxes [4].
- The WTTC encourages governments to reinvest additional revenues from the Travel & Tourism sector in decarbonising infrastructure, supporting businesses in their green transition, and expanding renewable energy sources, as part of a multi-faceted approach to reducing emissions [3][8].
