KnE Social Sciences

ISSN: 2518-668X

The latest conference proceedings on humanities, arts and social sciences.

Carbon Emissions in Tourism: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends

Published date: Dec 03 2025

Journal Title: KnE Social Sciences

Issue title: The 5th International Conference on Tourism, Gastronomy, and Tourist Destination (TGDIC 2025)

Pages: 494 - 504

DOI: 10.18502/kss.v10i29.20291

Authors:

Kevin MargatanKmargatan@gmail.comTrisakti Institute of Tourism, Jakarta

Hera OktadianaTrisakti Institute of Tourism, Jakarta

Agus RiyadiTrisakti Institute of Tourism, Jakarta

Abstract:

This study aims to analyze global trends in carbon emissions in the tourism sector through a bibliometric approach, focusing on identifying patterns of collaboration among researchers and developments in related topics over the past two decades. As a sector that contributes significantly to carbon emissions, primarily through air travel and road transport, tourism faces substantial challenges in reducing its environmental impact. While numerous studies have explored carbon emissions within the context of tourism, most remain confined to specific aspects, such as the impact of transportation or energy consumption in accommodations, failing to provide a comprehensive understanding of the sector’s overall carbon footprint. Through an extensive literature analysis, this study identified key trends that highlight the importance of technology-based solutions, such as big data and machine learning, in mitigating the carbon impacts of tourism. Furthermore, the analysis shows that despite increasing awareness of sustainability, gaps remain in the application of green technologies and effective international collaboration. These findings provide important insights for future research, focusing on data-driven solutions, global policy development, and more efficient technology deployment in achieving sustainable tourism in the future.

Keywords: carbon emissions, tourism, trending research, global

References:

[1] Pearce D. Environmental economics: A political economy perspective. 2nd ed. London: Longman; 2000.

[2] Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nature Climate Change [Internet]. 2018;8(6):522-528. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0151-0.

[3] Holling CS. Understanding the complexity of economic, ecological, and social systems. Ecosystems [Internet]. 2001;4(5):390–405. Available From: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10021-001-0101-5

[4] Gössling S, Scott D, Hall CM. Tourism and water: Interactions, impacts and challenges. Bristol: Channel View Publications; 2015. Journal of Tourism Futures [Internet]. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2016-0046

[5] Becken S. Carbon footprinting tourism: The need for a standardized approach. J Sustain Tour [Internet]. 2007;15(2):111–25.

[6] Aria M, Cuccurullo C. Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. J Informetrics [Internet]. 2017;11(4):959–75. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007

[7] Lenzen M, Sun Y, Faturay F, Ting YP, Geschke A, Malik A. The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nat Clim Chang [Internet]. 2018;8:522–8. Available From: DOI:10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x

[8] Stojanovic T, Hjalager AM, Krivokapic-Skoko B. Digital technologies for low-carbon tourism: Trends and perspectives. Tour Manag Perspect [Internet]. 2020;34:100646.

[9] Aria M, Cuccurullo C. Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. J Informetrics [Internet]. 2017;11(4):959–75. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007

[10] Becken S. Carbon footprinting tourism: The need for a standardized approach. J Sustain Tour [Internet]. 2007;15(2):111–25.

[11] Gössling S, Scott D, Hall CM. Sustainable tourism futures: Perspectives on systems, restructuring, and innovations. London: Routledge; 2015.

[12] Lenzen M, Sun Y, Faturay F, Ting YP, Geschke A, Malik A. The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nat Clim Chang [Internet]. 2018;8:522–8. Available From: DOI:10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x

[13] Borgman CL. The conundrum of sharing research data. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol [Internet]. 2007;58(4):679-83. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22634

[14] Müller H, et al. Improving metadata quality in digital repositories. Inf Technol Libr [Internet]. 2012;31(2):58-67.

[15] Van Couven, X. (2021). Managing carbon emissions in tourism: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth. Journal of Sustainable Tourism [Internet]. 29(5), 645-661. Available From: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1913452