Transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to account for 5.3% of all anthropogenic emissions by 2030, up from 5% in 2016, according to a report published by the International Transport Forum (ITF) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Therefore, UNWTO calls for enhanced cooperation between the transport and tourism sectors to transform tourism for climate action.

The report titled, ‘Transport-related CO2 Emissions of the Tourism Sector: Modelling Results,’ also notes that while the number of tourists is increasing, the sector is progressing towards low-carbon travel, and emissions per passenger kilometer are expected to decrease over the next decade.

The report provides insights into the evolution of tourism demand across the different global regions up to 2030, and details emissions produced by different modes of tourism transport. With growing international and domestic tourism, the data are presented alongside the expected transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the tourism sector against the current ambition scenario for the decarbonization of transport.

During the report’s launch, UNWTO Executive Director Manuel Butler urged tourism policymakers to use the data effectively and ensure that the sector plays a leading role in addressing the climate crisis. Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, said that while many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) cite tourism as a concern, industry must do more, and governments must align their policies, so that at the international level, we can collectively work to increase ambition. He cited the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme as a critical mechanism to promote sustainable tourism.

The report also finds that that: transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to increase by 25% from 2016 to 2030; tourism-related transport emissions will be approximately 21% of all transport emissions in 2030; and international and domestic arrivals are expected to increase from 20 billion in 2016 to 37 billion in 2030, which, in addition to an increase in emissions, will lead to socioeconomic development and job creation.

The report also recommends that the tourism sector determine its own high-ambition scenario to complement the efforts of the transport sector. For example, tourism could advance towards decoupling growth from emissions.

The report was launched during the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain. [Publication: Transport-related CO2 Emissions of the Tourism Sector: Modelling Results] [Publication Landing Page] [UNWTO Press Release]