The correlations between the responsible flying and changes in the tourism industry

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 190, Issue 5-6(2), Pages: 86-97

Citation information:
Remenyik, B., Horváth, D., & Ćorluka, G. (2021). The correlations between the responsible flying and changes in the tourism industry. Economic Annals-XXI, 190(5-6(2)), 86-97. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V190-08


Bulcsú Remenyik
PhD (Geoscience),
Associate Professor,
Budapest Business School
9-11 Alkotmány Str., Budapest, 1054, Hungary
remenyik.bulcsu@uni-bge.hu
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7267-5280

Dániel Horváth
PhD Student (Economics),
Lecturer,
Szent István University
1 Páter Károly Str., Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
Horvath.Daniel.12@phd.uni-szie.hu
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1843-6895

Goran Ćorluka
PhD (Economics),
Associate Professor,
University of Split
31 Ruder Boskovic Str., Split, 21000, Croatia
goran.corluka@oss.unist.hr
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6375-3593

The correlations between the responsible flying and changes in the tourism industry

Abstract. According to touristic cycle-theory, raising and decreasing waves show cyclicality showing more and more oscillation in time and depth. It has impact on intermediary sector as well as on relationship between tourism and transportation. It can be observed that air transportation transformed after recession but got out of trouble strengthened. Current transformation can be described as responsible fly, next crisis can be avoided only by evolving a comprehensive, sustainable development. Under green transformation we understand the decreasing of emission of pollutant gases by aviation, reducing the power consumption and participation in environment protecting projects.

In terms of future it means a serious problem that according to research of Eurocontrol carbon emission can be doubled, the international organizations called aviations for reducing their emission already in 2018.

In our research we looked for answers to the questions of why the sustainability of airlines has come into view just now and what people think about it as well as what the influence of the current situation will be on tourism and its transformation. A combination of economic, social, environmental, and psychological factors has recently been affecting the development of sustainable air traffic. Changes have arisen due to economic challenges as airlines faced restrictions which they have never seen in the past, such as border closures and several week long quarantine requirements for passengers. These resulted in the grounding the aircraft of airlines within a few weeks. Due to the pandemic, all airlines were in need of financial support from the Member States of the European Union. Each Member State and their cities with airports have an interest in the reduction of pollutant gases (the total CO2 emission of air traffic is 859 million tonnes per year, IATA 2020). Due to interdependence resulting from the crisis, a responsible air development programme has been started. Psychological factors have come to the forefront due to the pandemic, which means further challenges for the airlines. How could overcrowded flights be made safer for passengers? How would it be possible to win back the confidence of passengers?

As for the tourism industry, the resumption of flights and the operation of the sector are crucial issues (58% of international passengers fly to their destination) and a lot depends on the recoverability of psychological sustainability. Our travel habits should change in the future and this process would show the path to more balanced development.

Keywords: Sustainable Air Traffic; Responsible Aviation; Pandemic; Emission of Greenhouse Gases; Responsible Tourism

JEL Classification: L83

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V190-08

References

  1. Aviationbenefits. (2020, September). COVID-19 analysis fact sheet.
    https://aviationbenefits.org/media/167145/abbb20_factsheet_covid19.pdf
  2. Carbon Independent. (2020). Emission from Aviation.
    https://www.carbonindependent.org/22.html?fbclid=IwAR1T68F3towA7QdeJh4n_y3RIQTxjdOwA_uUECm6KGYm-BM6UHcyIRikrLI
  3. Clean Sky. (2020a). Aviation.
    https://www.cleansky.eu/aviation-0
  4. Clean Sky. (2020b). Innovative technologies.
    https://www.cleansky.eu/innovative-technologies-0
  5. Emirates. (2020a). A kibocsájtások csökkentése (Reducing emissions).
    https://www.emirates.com/hu/hungarian/about-us/our-planet/reducing-emissions (in Hungarian)
  6. Emirates. (2020b). The Emirates Group Annual Report 2018-2019.
    https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/annual_report_2019.pdf
  7. Eurocontrol. (2020). Environment.
    https://www.eurocontrol.int/sites/default/files/2020-03/eurocontrol-skyway-magazine-issue72.pdf
  8. Eurostat. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on air passenger transport.
    https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20200616-2
  9. Financial Times. (2020). Aviation industry prepares for sweeping changes in post-pandemic travel.
    https://www.ft.com/content/abc6355a-3801-4e32-a992-f55e475d4454
  10. Fleuti, E. (2019). Sustainability Series: How does Zurich Airport protect the environment?
    https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/99310/sustainability-series-how-does-zurich-airport-protect-the-environment
  11. HungaroControl. (2020). Corporate Responsibility.
    https://www.hungarocontrol.hu/tarsadalmi-felelossegvallalas (in Hungarian)
  12. Idokep. (2021). Smog map.
    https://www.idokep.hu/szmog (in Hungarian)
  13. Jászberényi, M., Forman, B., Pintér, Á., & Munkácsy, A. (2018). Közlekedés, mobilitás, turizmus (Transport, mobility, tourism). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó (in Hungarian).
  14. KLM. (2020). Official web-site.
    https://flyresponsibly.klm.com/gb_en#home
  15. Leigh, G. (2020). Flying Sanitized: How Air Travel May Change Forever After Coronavirus. Forbes.
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielleigh/2020/05/06/flying-sanitized-how-air-travel-may-change-forever-after-coronavirus/#33467be7279f
  16. Levegőmunkacsoport. (2020). Air pollution
    https://www.levego.hu/sites/default/files/kapcsolodo/bp_legszennyezettsegi_adatai.pdf (in Hungarian)
  17. Mazareanu, E. (2020). Monthly international revenue-passenger kilometers (RPK) change by region 2020. Statista.
    https://www.statista.com/statistics/234977/revenue-passenger-kilometers-on-international-flights
  18. McCool, S. F., & Lime, D. W. (2001). Tourism carrying capacity: Tempting fantasy or useful reality? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(5), 372-388.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580108667409
  19. Ottman, J. A. (2011). The New Rules of Green Marketing. Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield.
  20. Remenyik, B. (2020). Sustainable Tourism (Fenntartható turizmus). Budapest Business School. Budapest.
  21. Remenyik, B., Barcza, A., Csapó, J., Szabó, B., Fodor, G., & Dávid, L. D. (2021). Overtourism in Budapest: Analysis of spatial processand suggested solutions. Regional Statistics, 11(3), 1-19.
    https://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2021/2021_03/rs110303.pdf
  22. Remenyik, B., Horváth, D., & Vasa, L. (2020). Relationships between cycle theories, sustainable tourism, and the effects of the COVID-19 in Hungary. Economic Annals-XXI, 185(9-10), 79-90.
    https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V185-08
  23. Su, L., Lian, Q., & Huang, L. (2020). How do tourists’ attribution of destination social responsibility motives impact trust and intention to visit?: The moderating role of destination reputation. Tourism Management, 77, 1-13.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.103970
  24. Szász, P. (2021). Vezetnek a Zöldek Németországban a közvélemény-kutatások szerint (They lead the Greens in Germany, according to opinion polls). Napi.
    https://www.napi.hu/nemzetkozi-gazdasag/nemetorszag-valasztas-kancellar-csu-cdu-zoldek-annalena-baerbock.727805.html
  25. Tan, S.-K., Lim, H.-H., Tan, S.-H., & Kok, Y.-S. (2020). A Cultural Creativity Framework for the Sustainability of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 44(3), 439-471.
    https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1096348019886929
  26. The International Air Transport Association (IATA). (2020). Official web-site.
    https://www.iata.org/en/about
  27. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). (2020). Official web-site.
    https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Pages/default.aspx
  28. UNWTO. (1998). Guide for local authorities on developing sustainable tourism. A tourism and environment publication. UWTO, Madrid, 194.
  29. UNWTO. (2002a). Global code of ethics for tourism. In Contributions of the World Tourism Organization to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (pp 39-45). Johannesburg.
    https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284410910
  30. UNWTO. (2002b). The Italian ecotourism market. Special Report. No.13. WTO, Madrid, 100.
    https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/474095?ln=en
  31. Váradi, J. (2021). A légiközlekedés helyzete (Situation in aviation).
    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=262129608645408 (in Hungarian)
  32. Wennberg, L. (2019). Our ambition is high: Running the most climate-smart airport in the world. Journal of Airport Management, 13(2), 167-173
    https://hstalks.com/article/2206/our-ambition-is-high-running-the-most-climate-smar
  33. Wizz Air. (2020a). Passenger traffic stats. Official web-site.
    https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/investor-relations/investors/traffic-statistics
  34. Wizz Air. (2020b). Sustainability (Fenntarthatóság). Official web-site.
    https://wizzair.com/hu-hu/informaciok-es-szolgaltatasok/bemutatkozas/fenntarthatosag#wizz-care
  35. Wizz Air. (2020c). Investor information. Official web-site.
    https://wizzair.com/hu-hu/informaciok-es-szolgaltatasok/investor-relations/investors/information-dashboard

Received 27.04.2021
Received in revised form 12.05.2021
Accepted 16.05.2021
Available online 10.07.2021