WTTC Calls on Travel & Tourism Sector to Unite for Sustainable Fuel Expansion

International

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in partnership with global consultancy ICF, has unveiled a comprehensive framework to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: scaling up the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other renewable fuels.

The initiative calls on businesses across the Travel & Tourism spectrum to collaborate in achieving a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Scaling Up Sustainable Fuel: A Roadmap for the Industry

The new WTTC-ICF report, titled "Scaling Up Sustainable Fuel", outlines practical steps for stakeholders in the Travel & Tourism industry to contribute to decarbonisation. The framework categorises businesses into four roles – Collaborators, Promoters, Adopters, and Investors – and provides actionable strategies, from joining advocacy campaigns to funding fuel production facilities or purchasing sustainable fuel certificates.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stated:

"Sustainable fuel is the single biggest game-changer for Travel & Tourism. If we don’t act together, we risk facing higher costs, limited availability, and halted climate progress. Governments must not only set targets but also incentivise the production of SAF. This framework gives businesses the tools they need to contribute."

Urgent Need for Sustainable Fuel

SAF currently represents only 0.3% of global jet fuel consumption, with production needing to grow over 400-fold to meet net-zero targets by 2050. This will require around 6,500 new renewable fuel plants worldwide. Despite SAF’s compatibility with existing engines, high production costs and limited infrastructure have kept prices up to 10 times higher than conventional fuels.

The framework highlights real-world case studies to inspire action, such as the Erawan Group repurposing hotel waste oil into SAF in Asia, and Jet2 investing in a UK-based SAF plant using household waste. These examples demonstrate how the industry can reduce emissions while maintaining business viability.

Collective Action to Prevent Economic Setbacks

The WTTC warns that without industry-wide collaboration, government mandates requiring a 5% to 10% SAF blend by 2030 could lead to increased travel costs and reduced consumer choice. To mitigate this, the report encourages proactive involvement from all tourism businesses, including hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, cruise lines, and airlines.

Daniel Galpin, ICF Managing Director, emphasized the importance of collaboration:

"Decarbonising transport is critical for sustainable tourism. Aviation has taken significant steps toward using SAF, but the broader tourism ecosystem must also take responsibility. By implementing both strategic and operational changes, the industry can achieve its sustainability goals."

An Economic and Environmental Imperative

With the Travel & Tourism sector projected to generate $16.5 trillion and support over 460 million jobs by 2035, the expansion of sustainable fuel is not just an environmental necessity but an economic one.

For more details and to access the full report, visit the WTTC Research Hub.