Latest figures from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) show the travel and tourism industry becoming cleaner and lowering its global emissions, while it still grows healthily.
The research shows that in 2023, travel and tourism accounted for 6.7% of all emissions globally. This was down from 7.8% in 2019.
At the same time, the industry’s contribution to global GDP almost reached pre-pandemic levels at $9.9TN, just 4% shy of the sector’s peak.
The latest figures were released at the WTTC’s 24th Global Summit in Perth, Western Australia, which started today.
“Our sector is proving that we can grow responsibly,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO. “We’re decoupling growth from emissions – Travel & Tourism is expanding economically while lowering its environmental footprint.
“This is a defining moment, proving that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand in shaping the future of global tourism. However, while we are decoupling our sector’s growth from the increase in GHG, our aim is absolute reductions. We must accelerate this progress significantly to meet the Paris climate targets. We’re on the right track, but we need to up our game.”
A key driver of Travel & Tourism’s emissions is the energy used to power its operations.
Although 2023 showed positive trends compared to 2019, it’s clear that there are still significant opportunities to accelerate the green transition.
The increases in renewable energy use and reductions in fossil fuel reliance remain relatively modest, highlighting the need for more decisive action.
In 2023, the sector’s reliance on fossil fuel energy sources (oil, coal, and natural gas) dropped to 88.2% from 90% in 2019.
The share of low-carbon energy sources (nuclear and renewables) increased from 5.1% in 2019 to 5.9% in 2023, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The resurgence of the global Travel & Tourism sector is also mirrored in tax revenues that accrue to Governments from the direct taxes paid by our businesses.
In 2023, total Travel & Tourism tax revenues amounted to $3.32TN. This equates to 9.6% of total global tax revenues. Governments must use these additional revenues to reinvest in decarbonising infrastructure, expanding renewable energies and supporting businesses in their green transition, the WTTC said.
