Structural lock-ins in tourism decarbonization and the alternative

Decarbonization of the tourism sector faces challenges of structural lock-ins. This Comment challenges the conventional narratives of green tourism and emphasizes to practice more transformative eco-friendly solutions rather than to consume less, with ecotourism as a promising alternative to encourage more low-carbon behaviour in daily life.

The global tourism industry lost 62 million jobs and US$4.9 trillion in revenue in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic1, which temporarily created a ‘tourism decarbonization bubble’: long-haul travel halted and aviation-related carbon emissions declined. However, this illusory decarbonization effect has dissipated because the global tourism market has rebounded quickly since 2023.

Tourism is traditionally considered a low-carbon industry. However, recently, it has become more carbon-intensive due to increasing long-haul travel and the demand for high levels of hospitality. In 2023, global carbon emissions from tourism comprised 6.5% of the global total2, and the industry’s 4% annual growth in 2024 ensured that absolute emissions continued to rise. It is challenging for the tourism industry to be a valid contributor to decarbonization and net-zero goals.