Carbon offsetting as part of tourism operators’ strategy to mitigate climate change

Table of Contents

• Abstract
• Zusammenfassung
• Acknowledgement
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Climate Change and Tourism
• 2.1 Climate Change - A Global Challenge
• 2.2 Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism
• 2.3 Tourism as a Contributor to Climate Change
• 3 Climate Protection Strategies in the Tourism Industry
• 3.1 General Climate Protection Strategies
• 3.2 Carbon Offset as a Climate Protection Tool
• 4 Carbon Offset Projects - A Literature Analysis
• 4.1 The Concept of Carbon Offset
• 4.2 Types of Offset Projects
• 4.3 The Role of Tour Operators in Carbon Offset Projects
• 4.4 Criteria for Selection of Offset Projects
• 4.5 Criticism on Carbon Offsetting
• 5 Empirical Research on Tour Operators' Climate Protection Activities
• 5.1 Research Methodology
• 5.2 Results of the Interviews with International Tour Operators
• 5.2.1 Carbon Offset Projects of the Interviewed Companies
• 5.2.2 Reasons for Choosing Carbon Offset Projects
• 5.2.3 Benefits and Advantages of Carbon Offset Projects
• 5.2.4 Key Factors for Success
• 5.3 Results of the Interviews with Namibian Tour Operators
• 5.3.1 Tour Operators' Awareness of Climate Change
• 5.3.2 Climate Protection and Sustainability
• 5.3.3 Tour Operators' Knowledge of Carbon Offset
• 5.3.4 Attitudes and Preferences towards Offset Projects
• 6 Conclusion
• 7 References
• Appendix

Objectives and Key Themes

This study examines the role of carbon offsetting in tour operators' climate protection strategies. It investigates the attitudes, preferences, and needs of tour operators regarding carbon offsetting, focusing on both international and Namibian operators. The study aims to understand the factors influencing tour operators' decisions to engage in carbon offsetting and to identify the key challenges and opportunities associated with this approach.

• Climate change and its impacts on the tourism industry
• Climate protection strategies in the tourism industry, particularly carbon offsetting
• Factors influencing tour operators' decisions to engage in carbon offsetting
• Benefits and challenges associated with carbon offsetting projects
• Tour operators' awareness and perception of climate change in the context of Namibia

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the research topic, outlining the significance of climate change and its implications for the tourism industry. Chapter 2 delves into the multifaceted relationship between climate change and tourism, discussing the impacts of climate change on tourism destinations and the contribution of the tourism industry to climate change. Chapter 3 explores climate protection strategies in the tourism industry, focusing on the concept of carbon offsetting as a potential tool for mitigation. Chapter 4 presents a comprehensive literature analysis of carbon offset projects, examining different types of projects, the role of tour operators, and the criteria for selecting suitable offset projects. Chapter 5 presents the findings of the empirical research, based on interviews with both international and Namibian tour operators. The study analyzes tour operators' attitudes, preferences, and needs regarding carbon offsetting, as well as their awareness and perception of climate change. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the key factors for success in implementing climate protection strategies.

Keywords

The key terms and concepts explored in this study include climate change, tourism, carbon offsetting, climate protection strategies, tour operators, sustainable tourism, environmental sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation, adaptation, Namibia, and sustainable development.