Sustainable tourism worldwide - statistics & facts

The global tourism industry was thriving up until 2020. That year, both leisure travel spending and business travel spending plummeted across the globe as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite this decline in global travelers, the market size of the sustainable tourism sector worldwide was forecast to increase in the coming years. Sustainable tourism, also known as ecotourism or green tourism, is a form of tourism that attempts to take responsibility for its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, by looking at the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities. Issues that have triggered discussions over the necessity of more sustainable and ethical tourism practices include the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions, overcrowding, and a loss of socio-cultural authenticity in host communities. When surveyed in 2022, over 80 percent of global travelers said that sustainable tourism is important.

What are the effects of global tourism on the climate?

It is hard to measure the cumulative effect that the tourism industry has on the climate crisis as, unlike with other industries, there is no one clear product. It incorporates many industries, including lodging, transport, attractions, travel companies, and many more. However, a 2019 report from the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) stated that the global carbon dioxide emissions from tourism-related transport alone was a significant contributor to climate change, with a five percent share of carbon dioxide emissions from tourism-related transport worldwide being attributed to this. When looking more generally at the regional carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide, the Asia-Pacific and North America regions accounted for over 23 billion metric tons of CO₂ emissions.

Traveler awareness of social and environmental responsibility

While these issues remain especially relevant today, there has been a growing awareness for social and environmental responsibility among travelers in recent years. In 2021, the share of global travelers who believed that it was important choose a responsible hotel brand exceeded 80 percent. Meanwhile, the main reason travelers stayed in sustainable accommodations that same year was to help reduce their environmental impact. More recently, in 2022, the distribution of global travelers who intended to stay at least once in an eco-friendly or green accommodation when looking at the year ahead was 78 percent. Meanwhile, only 22 percent of global travelers did not intend to stay in eco-friendly or green accommodations when looking at the year ahead.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Mar 21, 2023

Key insights

Market size of the ecotourism industry worldwide
181.1bn USD
Share of carbon dioxide emissions caused by tourism-related transport worldwide
5%
Share of travelers that believe sustainable travel is important worldwide
81%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Market size of the ecotourism sector worldwide in 2019, with a forecast for 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leisure Travel

Ecotourism market size worldwide 2019-2027

Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2021, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Emissions

Global carbon dioxide emissions from energy 1965-2021, by region

Share of travelers that believe sustainable travel is important worldwide in 2022

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2022

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