Global Tourism and Carbon Emissions across the Pre-, During-, and Post-COVID-19 Periods: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies

The rapid development of the tourism industry stimulates economic growth across the world. However, tourism development is accompanied by an increase in CO2 emissions. In 2003, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) provided a summary of the Djerba Declaration on Tourism and Climate Change, examining the impact of global tourism development on CO₂ emissions. This study employs a meta-synthesis approach to examine the relationship between global carbon emissions and international tourism across the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods of COVID-19 - the most disastrous event in terms of magnitude since World War II. This study synthesizes existing empirical evidence to provide a thorough understanding of the impact of tourism development on CO₂ emissions before, during, and after the epidemic. The results may serve as a reference for policymakers and authorities to develop sustainable tourism in the post-pandemic era.

Keywords: International Tourism, International Tourists, COVID-19, Carbon Emissions.