Eco tourism: People walk along a footbridge in the central district of Hong Kong. Sustainability is fast becoming a decisive factor in tourist decision-making, according to experts. — Bloomberg
HONG KONG: As concerns grow about climate change and environmental degradation, the travel industry and governments in Asia are increasingly recognising the need to reduce the carbon footprint of tourism, a key source of emissions.
Low-carbon tourism has become a buzzword among government authorities and tour operators, as well as a growing number of tourists, as they seek to lessen the negative impact of their travel activities – especially carbon emissions – on the environment.
“The new trend is very important: we uphold mainstream decarbonisation and climate action in every major economic sector, especially tourism,” said Adnan Amin, chief executive officer (CEO) of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28.
According to the UN Tourism and the International Energy Agency, the tourism sector accounts for about 8% to 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a critical industry in the global push toward net zero.
“Without urgent action, transport-related emissions from tourism could increase by 25% by 2030,” Amin said.
“Thanks to rapid technological advances, we now have far more tools and solutions to decarbonise tourism.
“Lower emissions and sustainable travel are no longer a distant goal – they’re achievable.
“But making real progress requires strong international cooperation.
“Technological progress is already reshaping the sector’s carbon footprint,” he said.
For example, high-speed rail is proving to be a powerful low-carbon alternative to short-haul air travel.
“Studies show that high-speed rail journeys emit up to 90% less carbon dioxide than equivalent flights on the same routes, offering a cleaner and more efficient option for regional connectivity, particularly in countries such as China that are investing heavily in rail infrastructure.
“Additionally, the plunging cost of renewable energy – solar photovoltaic panel prices have fallen 88% and onshore wind by 68% between 2010 and 2023 – is making clean energy adoption more viable for hotels, resorts and tour operators worldwide,” he added.
Amin, who previously served as the founding director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, emphasised that sustainability is becoming a decisive factor in tourist decision-making.
“More and more travellers are choosing destinations that prioritise sustainability.
“Given a choice, they will favour those leading on climate action,” he said.
There is also a compelling business case for the industry to act.
“For travel companies, embracing sustainability is not just the right thing to do – it’s essential for securing the long-term future of the sector.
“Lower-carbon tourism is the pathway to resilience and continued growth,” Amin said.
Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism, said that there is a strong mandate to promote sustainability and create a low-carbon emissions strategy.
According to UN Tourism, an estimated 1.4 billion tourists travelled internationally last year.
“What we need to think about is how these billions of people that travel all around become more conscious and respect the environment and the communities more,” Bayona said.
She said there is a strong message from institutions and the public sector to create low-carbon strategies, and there are programmes aimed at promoting sustainability.
According to her, it is vital to advance a methodology to measure sustainable tourism with social impact being a key factor.
“This is really important because tourism is the most human economic sector, a human-to-human business (where) we need to measure the real impact on communities,” she said.
William Yu, founder and CEO of World Green Organisation, a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation, said, “There is a growing global trend toward low-carbon tourism, and the Asia-Pacific region is no exception. Pursuing this new trend can bring immense advantages.”
Environmental benefits apart, there are also economic gains to be made, such as creating new job opportunities, stimulating local economies, and generating more revenue from sustainable tourism.
More importantly, supporting local communities and promoting cultural heritage is another key concept for low-carbon tourism.
“For social benefits, I believe cultural exchanges could be enhanced, not to mention supporting local communities and enhancing the overall tourist experience,” Yu said.
Amin, CEO of COP28, said the economic potential of sustainable tourism is significant. According to the World Economic Forum, nature-positive tourism could generate US$230bil and create 20 million new jobs annually by 2030, provided it is properly managed.
“China, one of the world’s largest tourism markets, is also seeing growing demand for sustainable travel experiences, creating opportunities for innovation and leadership in low-carbon tourism development,” Amin said.
“Tourism can be a driver of sustainable development and economic opportunity.
“By aligning with climate goals, the sector can secure its resilience and make a real contribution to the ongoing global energy transition.”
According to Bayona, sustainable tourism, or social impact tourism, also offers a lot of opportunities to help the most vulnerable. “When you respect others, when you respect society, when you respect communities, then you are in a win-win strategy,” she said.
Priantha Fernando, former chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, or SLTDA, said that low-carbon tourism goes hand in hand with sustainable tourism, and it ensures that natural resources are utilised in a planned manner.
“From environmental, social, cultural and economic perspectives, maximum protection and preservation are provided (in this type of tourism),” he said. — China Daily/ANN
