The number of international tourists is expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030, according to a new UN report, with emerging economies responsible for the highest growth rates.

While the report by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) notes that this “represents a more moderate growth pace in the industry than in previous years", another UN agency warns that increased tourism will double carbon emissions over the next 25 years.   

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) notes that most of the energy for tourism comes from fossil fuels, with the sector contributing an "estimated five percent to global greenhouse emissions.”  Aviation currently accounts for 40 percent of tourism’s carbon emissions, cars for 32 percent and accommodation for 21 percent.

The report by UNEP and the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development), said that ambitious pledges by countries such as Austria, Germany, Ireland and South Africa show that it is possible for the tourism industry to become a source of innovative solutions to climate change.  It emphasizes how government policy, industry initiatives and green technologies can help tourism follow a low-carbon path to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and water consumption.

UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said that in the run-up to the Rio+20 climate conference in Brazil next year, the contribution of the tourist industry to sustainable development will only continue to grow.  She called on the tourism sector to do its part while “avoiding pitfalls such as damaging ecosystems and failing to benefit local communities if profits are repatriated overseas.”