The Tourism Industry in the Island of Crete, Greece: Is It Carbon-Intensive?

Abstract

Impacts of the tourism industry on climate change are not negligible as indicated in various studies implemented so far. The eco-effectiveness of this industry can be assessed taking into account its carbon emissions combined with the tourism-generated income. The carbon intensity of the tourism industry in the island of Crete, Greece has been compared with the tourism-related carbon intensity in other tourist territories and countries as well as with the corresponding value of the Greek economy. Existing data in published literature have been used for comparison. Various measures resulting in the decrease of the carbon intensity of the tourism industry in Crete have also been examined. It has been found that the tourism-related carbon intensity in Crete is in the same range of values reported in other tourist territories. However, it is higher than the corresponding value of the whole Greek economy. If however the emissions due to international flights of tourists to Crete are excluded from the estimations, the resulting carbon intensity of this industry is significantly lower compared with its initial estimations. It is also lower than the value of the whole Greek economy as well as the required carbon intensity for achieving global sustainability.