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Carbon Footprint Evaluation Based on Tourist Consumption toward Sustainable Tourism in Japan

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  • Yusuke Kitamura

    (Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-8551, Japan)

  • Yuki Ichisugi

    (Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-8551, Japan)

  • Selim Karkour

    (Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-8551, Japan)

  • Norihiro Itsubo

    (Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-8551, Japan)

Abstract

The importance of the contribution of tourism to climate change has been noted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By combining a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) and input–output analysis, several researchers have attempted to evaluate the impacts of the tourism industry, as well as its products and services. Indeed, the tourism sector has a wide range of industries, including travel and tours, transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, amusement, souvenirs, etc. However, the existing cases do not show a breakdown of the impact on climate change. In this paper, the carbon footprint (CFP) of the Japanese tourism industry was calculated based on tourist consumption, using the Japanese input–output table and the Japanese tourism industry. We demonstrate that the total emissions were approximately 136 million t-CO2 per year. The contribution ratio of each stage is as follows: Transport 56.3%, Souvenirs 23.2%, Petrol (direct emissions) 16.9%, Accommodation 9.8%, Food and Beverage 7.5%, and Activities 3.0%. Then, in the breakdown, the impacts are in the following order: Air transport 24.7%, Petrol (direct emissions) 16.9%, Accommodation 9.8%, Food and Beverage 7.5%, Petrol 6.1%, Textile products 5.3%, Food items 4.9%, Confectionery 4.8%, Rail transport 3.9%, Cosmetics 1.9%, and Footwear 1.8%. In addition to transportation, this research also highlights the contribution from souvenirs, accommodation, and food and beverages.

Suggested Citation

  • Yusuke Kitamura & Yuki Ichisugi & Selim Karkour & Norihiro Itsubo, 2020. "Carbon Footprint Evaluation Based on Tourist Consumption toward Sustainable Tourism in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2219-:d:331813
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. José María Martín Martín & Jose Manuel Guaita Martínez & José Antonio Salinas Fernández, 2018. "An Analysis of the Factors behind the Citizen’s Attitude of Rejection towards Tourism in a Context of Overtourism and Economic Dependence on This Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Manfred Lenzen & Ya-Yen Sun & Futu Faturay & Yuan-Peng Ting & Arne Geschke & Arunima Malik, 2018. "The carbon footprint of global tourism," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 522-528, June.
    3. Filimonau, Viachaslau & Dickinson, Janet & Robbins, Derek & Reddy, Maharaj Vijay, 2013. "The role of ‘indirect’ greenhouse gas emissions in tourism: Assessing the hidden carbon impacts from a holiday package tour," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 78-91.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongkuan Zang & Lirong Zhang & Ye Xu & Wei Li, 2020. "Dynamic Input–Output Analysis of a Carbon Emission System at the Aggregated and Disaggregated Levels: A Case Study in the Northeast Industrial District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Osorio, Pilar & Cadarso, María-Ángeles & Tobarra, María-Ángeles & García-Alaminos, Ángela, 2023. "Carbon footprint of tourism in Spain: Covid-19 impact and a look forward to recovery," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 303-318.
    3. Xiumei Xu & Chao Feng & Yongshan Du & Qimeng Wang & Gaige Zhang & Yicheng Huang, 2022. "Evaluating the sustainability of a tourism system based on emergy accounting and emergetic ternary diagrams: a case study of the Xinjiang Kanas tourism area," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6731-6787, May.
    4. Wonseob Song, 2022. "Climate Change and Tourism Sustainability in Jeju Island Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-28, December.
    5. Yusuke Kitamura & Selim Karkour & Yuki Ichisugi & Norihiro Itsubo, 2020. "Evaluation of the Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Japanese Tourism Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Yingying Hu, 2022. "Where Have Carbon Emissions Gone? Evidence of Inbound Tourism in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Wei Yao & Weikun Zhang & Wenxiu Li & Penglong Li, 2022. "Measurement and Evaluation of Convergence of Japan’s Marine Fisheries and Marine Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Yusuke Kitamura & Selim Karkour & Yuki Ichisugi & Norihiro Itsubo, 2020. "Carbon Footprint Evaluation of the Business Event Sector in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-26, June.

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