Responsible Tourism Made Easy: Carbon Footprint Tracked by your Bank for Sustainability

Abstract

The legacy we leave to future generations is shaped by the way we consume, move and inhabit our environment. Despite increasing climate commitments, household carbon emissions remain a major blind spot in Spain’s sustainability transition. This study addresses the problem of identifying the main drivers of individual emissions and their linkage with tourism-related behavior. Using a dataset of 1,017 individuals with detailed sociodemographic, professional and behavioral variables, total household emissions are disaggregated into mobility, restaurants, housing and shopping categories and cross-referenced by age, gender, region, employment status, income, telework days, nationality and household composition. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and t-tests, are employed to highlight significant differences and patterns across demographic groups, taking into account indicators of sustainability-related attitudes and behaviors. The research aims to understand the underlying factors and inequalities of household carbon footprints, with a focus on implications for the tourism sector, which contributes significantly to national emissions, particularly through transport. Results show that variables such as age, income and household size shape carbon footprints and tourism demand patterns. Its originality lies in combining automatic carbon assessment tools with digital banking data to track consumption-based emissions at the individual level. Practically, the study offers data-driven recommendations for policymakers and businesses to design tailored sustainability interventions and theoretically, it advances the discussion on behavioral and technological pathways to low-carbon tourism. The findings underscore the need for targeted, data-driven sustainability policies that integrate technological innovation and behavioral insights. By empowering citizens through digital monitoring and awareness, the sector can foster environmental stewardship and strengthen Spain’s transition toward a competitive, net-zero future.