Author(s)

HRVOJE GROFELNIK, MARKO PERIĆ, NICHOLAS WISE

Abstract

Tourism generates diverse and complex economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts on space. Tourism organizers and service providers tend to emphasize the positive effects, and often underestimate or neglect negative environmental impacts. The environmental impact of tourism is clearly visible in the transportation of tourists from their homes to their destinations and back, thus generating significant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions that directly participate in global warming. In order to determine the intensity of the impact of transport (for tourism purposes) on the environment, or more specifically on CO₂ emissions, the Carbon Footprint method (CF) is increasingly applied in modern scientific research. The possibilities of CF research in the form of case studies can be monitored in an increasing number and in various fields of research, confirming the value of the method. This review paper analyses the development and application of the CF method in the sustainable development of tourism and specifically sports tourism. By reviewing and analysing the relevant CF literature represented in the WoSCC database, this paper presents the basics of the scientific methodology of CF and its development and application from the aspect of sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the application of CF in measuring the environmental impact of tourism. The research points out the potential contribution of future CF research and complement methods in the overall picture of environmental burden. This should give an agenda and impetus for future research of sustainable development within the topic of the environmental burden generated by tourism.

Keywords

sustainable development, ecological footprint, carbon footprint, tourism, sport tourism