By Geoff Percival,Stephen Aherne

Copyright ittn

Global tourism has managed to reduce its carbon footprint even while recovering past its pre-pandemic operational peak, new research shows.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism industry’s combined global greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 9.3% since 2019, when Travel & Tourism was at its peak, and now account for a 7.3% share of total global GHG emissions, down from an 8.3% share in in 2019.

Whilst the sector’s environmental impact decreased, its GDP footprint grew 6% beyond its pre-pandemic peak from $10.3TN in 2019 to $10.9TN last year.

This decline reflects a reduction in emissions intensity (emissions per unit of economic output) which has fallen by 15% since 2019, with Travel & Tourism steadily generating more economic value while producing fewer emissions.

The majority of the decline in intensity has been driven by improvements in efficiency, including a 16.6% uptick in the adoption of low-carbon energy across the sector, and a 5.7% drop in the use of fossil fuels.

WTTC Interim CEO Gloria Guevara said: “This is clear evidence that Travel & Tourism can grow while reducing its environmental impact. But we need to continue to accelerate action. Our data shows that 40% of our emissions lie in transport, and a further 19% in purchased electricity. We also know that 57.4% of our emissions lie in our supply chain.

“We must double down on sustainable fuels, renewable energy, and low-carbon infrastructure, and key to achieving this is effective public-private partnerships.”

The WTTC’s new Environmental & Social Research (ESR) 2025 Report – in conjunction with Oman – also shows the positive social change being made possible by the tourism and travel sector.

In 2024, the sector supported 126 million female workers, an increase of 6.3 million over the previous year and surpassing the pre-pandemic peak by 4.3 million.

Youth employment in the sector rose by 2.3 million in 2024, exceeding 2019 levels by 2.4 million. The share of youth in Travel & Tourism outperforms the wider economy, with the direct youth share of T&T employment at 15.7%, compared to 13.7% for the overall economy.

Dr. Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Oman Tourism Development Company, said: “At OMRAN Group, we are proud to partner with WTTC as its Sustainability Data Partner, reinforcing Oman’s commitment to sustainable tourism development. This collaboration allows us to bring robust data and insights to the global stage, helping shape evidence-based strategies that balance economic growth with sustainability leadership.

“We see this partnership as a catalyst to accelerate our own sustainability agenda, inspire our partners, and contribute to global efforts in its move towards sustainable tourism and empowering local communities.”

“Travel & Tourism is driving positive change across economies and societies,” added Guevara. “From creating high-quality jobs to reducing our share of global emissions, our sector is proving it can be both resilient and responsible. With the right partnerships, the sector will continue to be a force for good for people, planet, and prosperity.”