Impact of the Participation of the Tourism Sector on Carbon Emission Reduction in the Tourism Industry

Abstract

Carbon emissions in the tourism industry stem from independent industries (e.g., aviation, accommodation, and catering), but it is unclear whether the participation of the tourism sector promotes carbon emission reduction. In China, the tourism sector has been involved in the formulation and implementation of low-carbon tourism policies since 2017, providing a quasi-natural experimental condition for studying whether the participation of the tourism sector can promote the reduction of carbon emission in the tourism industry. Through a quantitative analysis, we find that the participation of the tourism sector promotes the carbon emission reduction. In particular, the participation of tourism departments in the formulation and implementation of low-carbon tourism policies leads to 1.622 million more tons (1% significance level) of carbon emission reduction in tourism-developed cities than in other cities. The participation of the tourism sector can promote carbon emission reduction in the transportation, construction, and commodity production sectors. It can also promote a low-carbon lifestyle. Finally, we suggest that the tourism industry should use the market to promote a carbon peak and use technology to achieve carbon neutrality. This study is of great significance for the reduction of carbon emissions in China’s tourism industry.