The tourism sector consumes significant levels of energy based on both transport-related activities, such as travel to, from and at the destination, and destination-related aspects, such as accommodation, food and tourist activities. While the expansion of tourism resulted in an increase in fossil energy consumption and important green house gas emissions, investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy in tourism are found to generate significant returns within a short period of time. 

Existing indicators focus on consumption, the use of alternative sources and the introduction of energy efficiency and saving programs. In addition, measuring the overall carbon footprint of tourism has become increasingly important within in the climate change discussions. However, measuring energy consumption in the tourism sector remains difficult and complex due to a variety of reasons, such as difficulties in capturing tourism´s indirect energy use from the construction of hotels, airports, cars and roads, as well as energy use in associated sectors, such as tour operators and their offices or travel to work by those employed in tourism. 

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