Cape Town - Many of the world’s biggest travel and tourism companies are on course to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2035, based on 2005 levels, according to a new report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
This target was set by the industry in 2009.
In the run up to the COP21 climate change talks in Paris at the end of this year, the report looks at the importance of addressing climate change for travel and tourism companies and the progress that has been made by the world’s airlines, airports, hotels, cruise lines, car hire companies and other industries in the last decade.
It also aims at determining how the sector can build on this progress to respond effectively to the challenges of the future.
The latest WTTC report shows that many large role players in the industry have already improved their carbon efficiency by 20% in the last ten years and are on course to reach the target of a 25% reduction by 2020.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, told Fin24 that climate change and extreme events have caused business interruption and disruption for travellers in many recent years.
"A change in the frequency and magnitude of extreme events has direct and indirect relevance for tourism businesses. These include implications for business operating costs, resilience, destination marketing, property values, tourist behavioural change, insurability and mobility costs," he said.
Travel and tourism’s total contribution to GDP was R357bn ($27.5bn) to South Africa’s economy in 2014 - or 9.4% of total GDP.
WTTC forecasts travel and tourism’s contribution to GDP will grow by 4.3% per annum over the next ten years. Additionally, the industry supported 1.5 million direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2014, representing 9.9% of total employment in SA.
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As for the African continent, Scowsill said travel and tourism's contribution to GDP was $196.8bn - or 8.1% of GDP - in 2014 and is forecast to rise by 4.9% per year to $330.1bn - or 7.9% of GDP - in the next ten years. Additionally, the industry supported 8.7 million direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2014, representing 3% of total employment on the continent.
"With the extent of such numbers it is of extreme importance that travel and tourism businesses and governments take the responsibility to ensure the industry grows sustainably.
WTTC works on a vision for tourism that responds to the demands of increasing numbers of consumers in the face of shrinking natural resources and encourages tourism businesses and governments to adopt practices that look to tackle these challenges, as is showcased in the report," said Scowsill.
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"Globally, travel and tourism companies are now 20% more efficient than in 2005, and this report recognises the important work that has been done and at the same time the work that still needs to be done. Hope is not lost at all, but tourism businesses have to ensure they are all working towards the reduction of the carbon footprint to ensure sustainable growth of our sector."
According to Scowsill, in 2015 the travel and tourism industry is forecast to contribute almost 10% of world GDP and 1 in 11 of all jobs on the planet.
In 2014 there were 1.2 billion international arrivals and travel and tourism supported 9.8% of the world’s GDP.
Off the back of 23.9% growth in the past decade, travel and tourism is forecast to grow a further 3.8% per year over the next ten years.
By 2030, the UN World Tourism Organisation is estimating 1.8 billion international travellers annually, while, in addition, there will be billions more domestic travellers.
"The strength of the sector is due to continue for the next decade at almost 4% per annum. With such robust growth, travel and tourism’s relationship to climate change becomes critical," explained Scowsill.