The Spanish city has implemented a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 that has seen it verify and certify its carbon footprint from tourist activity. 

Visit Valencia carried out a study with Global Omnium that measured sources of carbon emissions produced by tourism activity in 10 different areas including public and private infrastructure, water management, solid waste, transport to and within the city, cruise passengers and accommodation.

“The research found that all tourism activity produced 1.3 million tonnes of Co2 in 2019, of which 81% related to tourists’ transport to the city but only 0.92% to the use of transport within the city,” it said. 

“Another interesting finding was that just 0.01% of the tourism footprint comes from water consumption - Valencia is the city with the highest water efficiency in Europe - and that emissions from all tourist activity are equivalent to one third of the carbon footprint generated by residents’ food consumption.”

Findings are being used to contribute to Visit Valencia Foundation’s commitment to become a carbon-neutral destination by 2025.

Visit Valencia is also examining the potential for energy generation using renewable sources, the possibility of a fully electric transport system and maximising natural spaces in absorbing Co2.