Accounting for carbon emissions associated with tourism-related consumption

This article explores the issues of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from the production of the goods and services provided to supply tourism consumption. First, we define the scope of tourism activities and the resulting tourism consumption and tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA). Second, we calculate CO2 emissions for sectors and compile a carbon input-output table (CIOT). Third, we adjust the tourism-related products consumed according to the range of the corresponding sectors of the CIOT. Finally, we use Shanghai as an example to calculate the carbon emissions that result from tourism consumption using the input-output model. This study shows that the TDGVA accounted for 7.97% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2012, whereas the carbon footprint of tourism accounted for 20.45% of total carbon emissions. The results demonstrate that tourism is not a low-carbon industry in Shanghai.