Examinando por Autor "Femenia Serra, Francisco"

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    Analizando la adaptación al cambio climático de los destinos turísticos urbanos españoles a través de sus planes
    (Asociación Española de Geografía, 2026-04-27) Femenia Serra, Francisco; Pousa Unanue, Aitziber ; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene
    Climate change is one of the biggest threats for tourism destinations. Tourism territories need to reduce their contribution to global warming by cutting down their carbon emissions, and at the same time they must adapt to more frequent extreme weather events, higher temperatures and growing sea levels. In this context, this research looks at how the three main urban destinations of Spain (Madrid, Barcelona and València) are fighting against and adapting to climate change through planning. We examine the three main planning instruments available to Spanish cities (climate action plan, tourism sustainability plan and tourism strategic plan) in order to better comprehend how these urban destinations are coping with the challenges posed by global warming. The results show a low level of coordination between the different plans and a lack of ambition in many of the measures to be implemented. However, there are differences across the cities, with the city of Barcelona showing a higher degree of sophistication in its planning, while Madrid lacks specific actions that can be observed and measured. Valencia lies in an intermediate level, with notable changes in recent times in its approach to the relationship between tourism and climate change action. While these destinations are making efforts in the reduction of emissions, there is room for improvement in the adaptation to the ramifications of climate change, and in the type and ambition of actions undertaken.
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    Calculating the carbon footprint of urban tourism destinations: a methodological approach based on tourists’ spatiotemporal behaviour
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-03) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Álvarez Fernández, Roberto; Delgado Jiménez, Alexandra; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    This study investigates the influence of urban tourists’ behaviour on the environmental performance of a destination, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. Tourist-related emissions are shaped by their choices and behaviours, impacting the overall carbon footprint of the locations they visit. To assess this impact, we introduce a methodology for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions linked to tourists’ energy consumption. This approach considers key tourism components—activities, accommodation, and transportation—analysing their roles in emissions across a trip’s temporal and spatial dimensions. By integrating tourists’ spatiotemporal behaviour with emissions data, our framework offers insights that can support local climate-responsive urban and tourism policies. We empirically apply the proposed model to the destination of Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain), where the primary travel sequences of visitors are analysed. We utilise cartographic techniques to map the environmental footprints of different tourist profiles, such as cultural and nature tourists. The findings indicate that visitors primarily motivated by nature and outdoor recreation constitute the segment with the highest greenhouse gas emissions (with a minimum footprint of 30.69 kg CO2-equivalent per trip), followed by cultural tourists, and finally, other categories of visitors. The results highlight the practical applications of the proposed model for sustainable tourism management, providing valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in mitigating the environmental impacts of tourism
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    Del conocimiento a la acción: integrando la huella de carbono en la gestión estratégica de destinos urbanos
    (Asociación Española de Geografía, 2026-04-27) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    Between 2009 and 2019, carbon emissions from global tourism increased by 3.5% annually, doubling the growth rate of the world economy. In 2019, tourism was responsible for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reducing tourism-related emissions requires local understanding and tools tailored to specific destination contexts. Past studies reveal that while tourism professionals recognize climate change as a threat, concrete actions remain limited. DMOs are key players in climate action but often lack specific responsibilities, training, and resources. Tools like carbon calculators can support awareness and action, but their effectiveness is still under-researched. This study investigates the willingness of destination management organisations (DMOs) in five Spanish destinations to adopt a carbon footprint calculator tailored to local needs through participatory workshops. It explores their knowledge of tourists’ environmental behaviour, perceptions of the calculation tool, and how such tool can be integrated into destination management dashboards. Participants emphasized the need to segment tourist profiles by motivation and travel behaviour to better understand environmental responsibility. They also suggested improvements in the calculator’s design and dissemination, including mobile access and better integration with tour operators. Ultimately, the study shows that locally adapted tools can support sustainable tourism strategies, help shape public policy and foster behavioural change among visitors and tourism stakeholders alike.
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    Methodological pathways for measuring tourism carbon footprint: a framework-oriented systematic review
    (MDPI AG, 2026-01-23) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber ; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene ; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    Tourism is increasingly acknowledged as a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, efforts to accurately assess its carbon footprint remain hindered by methodological inconsistencies and a reliance on fragmented case studies. This study undertakes a systematic review of 166 peer-reviewed research papers to critically evaluate prevailing approaches for quantifying tourism-related carbon emissions. Leveraging a structured framework encompassing four analytical dimensions and fourteen parameters, the analysis reveals that energy consumption and emission factors constitute the core elements of prevailing models. Nevertheless, only half of the papers account for indirect emissions, and the majority of studies are confined to national or subnational scales, offering limited insight into destination-specific impacts. This methodological heterogeneity undermines the comparability of results and constrains their utility in formulating coherent, evidence-based climate policies. By synthesising these diverse approaches, this review identifies critical methodological gaps, advocates for the harmonisation of best practices, and delineates a roadmap for more robust and context-sensitive carbon accounting within the tourism industry. The insights gained are practical for researchers and policymakers seeking to align tourism development with climate mitigation objectives, thereby fostering greater transparency and efficacy in carbon governance within the sector. Ultimately, such initiatives aim to fortify the sector’s contribution to global decarbonisation efforts.