Have you ever wondered about the environmental impact of tourism in Spain? We’re talking about one of the country’s most important economic sectors that contributes to the adoption of measures to preserve natural resources, among other things. However, not everything about the tourism sector is positive, since it has also become one of the most polluting.

Table of contents
  1. The environmental impact of tourism in Spain
  2. What is the carbon footprint of my trip?
  3. Tips for enjoying a low-carbon trip
  4. How many trees would we have to plant to offset the carbon footprint from our vacation?

The environmental impact of tourism in Spain

According to a study published in 2017 by the Fundación Alternativas (Alternatives Foundation) (in collaboration with Ecoembes), every million tourists  who visit Spain consume:  11 million liters of fuel, 2 million kilos of food and 300 million liters of water.

With the pandemic and confinement still fresh in our minds, it appears that there are efforts to try to reduce the impact of tourism on the environment. In fact, an increasing number of companies in the tourism sector are rethinking the way they do things and the services they offer tourists. There is greater awareness among tourists who are interested in  more sustainable and environmentally friendly vacations.

These tourists are typically young people between 16 and 24 years of age. Madrid and Catalonia top the list in terms of their places of origin.  This is according to the survey carried out by the travel booking platform Omio. What about you? Do you consider yourself to be environmentally conscious? Do you think you could do more?

What is the carbon footprint of my trip?

We aren’t always aware of how “expensive” our travel can be for the environment. When we pack our bags and get in the car or board the plane, we’re thinking more about the beaches, the sunsets, and getting together with friends than we are about the greenhouse gas emissions we generate, which are the main cause of climate change.

It is estimated that in Spain each person emits an average of 7.15 tons of CO2 per year. What happens when we go on vacation? We continue to generate more carbon dioxide directly and indirectly as a result of our activities.

Travel is a very broad concept that involves many variables, so it’s difficult to calculate exactly how much we emit, but it is possible to find out which activities generate the most greenhouse gas.

Transportation: To fly or not to fly? That is the question

Planes are the most polluting mode of transport, while trains pollute the least.  It is estimated that planes emit about 285 grams of C02 per kilometer and passenger, so on a flight from Madrid to Barcelona one person would emit about 150 kilos of C02 per trip. When travelling from Madrid to Chicago, each passenger would be responsible for the emission of 1,020 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Accommodations

The size of the building, its geographical location and whether or not it has a swimming pool are some of the factors that influence the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions. In general, hotels or hostels with smaller rooms and fewer amenities have a lower footprint.

One of the industries that is making the most progress in the field of sustainability is the hotel industry.  Some hotels are already offering their guests different options to offset C02 emissions during their stay.

Food

Choosing a legume or plant-based meal is not the same as choosing meat, which has a higher carbon footprint. According to a study published in Science on the carbon footprint of different types of food worldwide, one kilogram of beef generates 60 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.

Tips for enjoying a low-carbon trip

With this information in hand, what can we do to reduce our carbon footprint while on vacation?

  • Use public transport whenever possible.

  • Choose smaller hotels or ones that offer solutions to offset our emissions.

  • Choose plant-based dishes or reduce red meat consumption when eating out.

  • Consume local products.

  • Make reservations at zero-waste restaurants.

  • Refuse plastic bags.

How many trees would we have to plant to offset the carbon footprint from our vacation?

The measures that help to reduce the carbon footprint also include planting new trees, but how many trees should each one of us plant to make a change or to offset the impact of our travels?

The moving company, 1st Move International, has done the calculations for us, although based exclusively on carbon emissions from air travel.

The company analyzed a total of 20 vacation destinations for the calculation, specifically, the most popular destinations from the UK. For each one they calculated the exact amount of CO2 generated by each passenger on their return flights.

Spain is one of the top European destinations on the list and the company points out that each traveler should plant an average of 6 trees if they go to Mallorca, 5 if they travel to Tenerife or Lanzarote and 3 if they go to Benidorm or Ibiza.

If you’re thinking of offsetting your carbon footprint, you can always count on us for help. Sponsor a tree with us. The planet will thank you!