The World Travel & Tourism Council recently released a report entitled, “Climate and Ocean: Quantifying coastal and marine tourism and protecting destinations.” The report quantifies the impact of global coastal and marine tourism. The following are some highlights from the report:
- Coastal and marine tourism contributed $1.5 trillion to global GDP through its direct activities in 2023 and $3.3 trillion when including its supply chain (3.2% of the world economy). This activity directly supported 52 million jobs and 100 million total jobs when including the supply chain. Its direct tax footprint totaled $820 billion and $1.3 trillion in total when including the supply chain.
- It also created a significant environmental footprint, with its directly attributable (Scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions equaling 0.8% of world emissions, and its total footprint equaling 3.0% of global emissions in 2023.
- Investments to mitigate climate impacts and adapt to its consequences will cost between $30 billion to $65 billion per year for the sector’s Scope 1 footprint, with the lower end of this range representing the minimum for mitigation efforts alone. Mitigation of its total footprint (including scope 2, scope 3, and international transport footprints) will require an estimated $120 billion, while mitigation and adaptation will require an estimated $260 billion.
- To reduce its emissions the Travel & Tourism sector will need to focus on decarbonizing transportation emissions, boosting low-carbon electricity generation, and reducing emissions in its supply chain. Much of this will not be in the direct control of the Travel & Tourism sector, meaning it relies on joined-up action from government, international organizations, and other parts of the private sector. It is imperative that Travel & Tourism is a key stakeholder in their efforts to mitigate climate change.
- Adaptation to climate change will involve protecting destinations from climate hazards using a range of solutions including resilient infrastructure, coastal defenses, early warning systems and nature-based solutions, with these also requiring coordination with other stakeholders including businesses and governments. When managed well, this can enhance the Travel & Tourism sector’s role as a positive force in coastal communities.
According to the report, the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires action from many sources. Companies working in the Travel & Tourism sector within coastal destinations only have direct control over a small portion of their emissions footprint. Other requirements, such as reductions in supply chain emissions, decreasing grid electricity emissions, and decarbonizing transportation networks will require action from governments, development organizations, and industry at the local, national, and international levels. The Travel & Tourism sector in coastal destinations is an important stakeholder in the decarbonization process given the extent to which it relies on other sectors to succeed, and it can use its position to try and drive wider change.
To access the report, click here.
