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The World Travel & Tourism Council and the Saudi Arabian-based Sustainable Tourism Global Centre have unveiled revolutionary new data detailing the climate footprint of the tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

According to the data, between 2010 and 2019, the APAC tourism sector decoupled its economic growth from its greenhouse gas emissions. 

The new data for the region reveals the total contribution to APAC’s GDP grew on average 7.3% annually, while greenhouse gas emissions increased by just 4% during the same period.

The data also shows how the sector’s emissions intensity continues to decrease.

In 2010, for every US$1 of the region’s tourism GDP, the sector emitted 0.94kg of greenhouse gas emissions. 

But in 2019, when tourism was at its peak, this figure had dropped by more than 26% to 0.69kg, demonstrating the progress of changes implemented by governments and business leaders across the Asia-Pacific region to create a more sustainable sector.

The new data shows that in 2019 the sector was responsible for an average of just 10.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the APAC region.

For the first time ever, this ground-breaking research can accurately report and track the impact industries within the sector have on the environment. 

This world first research which covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with the latest figures.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President and Chief Executive ,noted “we are now able to give governments across the Asia-Pacific region the insights they need to make significant steps towards the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“The travel and tourism sector in the region has decoupled its economic growth from its greenhouse gas emissions and reduced its emissions intensity by an incredible 26%. But while this shows progress, a lot more needs to be done.

“To reach our goals and ambitions, we must make bigger and bolder steps to reduce our absolute emissions. 

“Government support will be crucial in accelerating the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels which will have a significant impact on our footprint, as well as bringing in more renewable energy to our national grids.”

The global findings were launched at the global tourism body’s 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November this year.

This research was made possible due to the partnership between WTTC and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Centre. Under the Saudi green Initiative, more than 60 initiatives have been launched in the past year, representing more than US$186 billion of investment in the green economy.

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