Revisiting tourist arrivals, CO₂ emissions and pandemic crisis links using the Quantile-on-Quantile (QQ) approach

In the face of the urgent climate crisis compounded by the rapid expansion of the global tourism industry, this study employs the quantile-on-quantile (QQ) approach to dissect the impacts of international tourist arrivals and economic growth on CO₂ emissions reduction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Leveraging data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators database covering the years 1995–2020, our analysis centers on five pivotal tourist destinations: France, Spain, the USA, China, and Italy. Our findings underscore the pandemic's divergent effects, with international tourist arrivals contributing less to CO₂ emissions in all countries except China, where the correlation between arrivals and emissions remained largely unaltered. Moreover, our study identifies two distinct responses of CO₂ emissions to tourism development across these nations, validating earlier predictions. These insights hold significant implications for policymaking in tourism development, emphasizing the necessity of tailored strategies to foster sustainable practices in the post-pandemic era. By shedding light on the intricate interplay between tourism dynamics, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, our research offers crucial guidance for policymakers striving to navigate the complexities of the contemporary tourism landscape in a manner that ensures long-term ecological resilience.