The carbon footprint associated with air transport in three Mexican tourist destinations

Abstract Tourism in Mexico contributes to GDP and employment, but has environmental costs in terms of carbon emissions from air transport. The estimation of the carbon footprint of tourists arriving by air is crucial to raise awareness among decision makers in order to establish future tourism policies that reduce environmental degradation. This study estimates the carbon footprint generated by flights from three major Mexican tourist destinations—Cancún, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta—during the years 2022 and 2023. To carry out this research, official databases were used to determine the number of flights and the number of passengers visiting these places. Additionally, tools such as the ICAO carbon emissions calculator were employed to ensure accuracy in estimating emissions, considering factors such as flight distance, aircraft type, and passenger load. Subsequently, carbon footprint calculators specific to air transportation were used, considering factors such as flight distance and type of aircraft, in order to estimate the corresponding carbon emissions. The findings highlight the urgent need to implement sustainable policies, such as regulatory measures and the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels, to mitigate carbon emissions. The trend of carbon emissions indicates the need to implement sustainable policies in the tourism sector, including strategies to mitigate carbon emissions, promote responsible tourism and contribute to the fulfillment of the SDG. This study not only provides a quantitative view of the carbon footprint generated by tourism in selected destinations, but also highlights the importance of addressing the environmental challenges associated with the growth of tourism in Mexico.