ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Study on Food-Energy-Water Nexus
and Synergistic Control of Tourism in Beijing
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1
International United Faculty between Ningbo University and University of Angers/East China Sea
Institute/Collaborative Innovation Center of Port Economy, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
2
School of Economics and Management/Ecological Civilization Institute of Zhejiang Province,
Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
Submission date: 2021-10-06
Final revision date: 2022-01-10
Acceptance date: 2022-01-20
Online publication date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2022-06-20
Corresponding author
Yi Li
International United Faculty between Ningbo University and University of Angers/School of Geography and Tourism Culture, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3359-3371
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ABSTRACT
The rapid growth of tourism economy in Beijing has intensified the consumption of resources and
the pollution of the environment, and the coupled relationship among food, energy, and water requires
rigorous research and discussion. This study developed an environmental extended input-output
model by combining 42 sectoral input-output tables and tourism statistics in Beijing. It also carried
out the food-energy-water (F-E-W) accounting and evaluation of the tourism industry. Then, through
structural decomposition driving force analysis, it proposed a synergistic F-E-W reduction strategy
for the tourism industry in Beijing. Results of the study show that the F-E-W related sectors consume
a total of 605.6 million m3 of water and 21.1 million tons coal equivalent (tce) of energy to sustain
the operation of the tourism industry in Beijing; the food supply group generates the largest tourism
water footprint, accounting for 72.1%. The tourism direct group generates the largest tourism energy
footprint, accounting for 58.3%; and the food and water supply groups are the key contributors to the
F-E-W correlation. From 2012 to 2017, Beijing’s tourism water footprint (TWF) decreased by 46.3%,
and tourism energy footprint (TEF) increased by 23.7%. Structural decomposition analysis shows
that the reduction in Beijing’s TWF is driven by the changes in production structure. Conversely,
the increase in TEF is driven by scale effects. Through eco-innovation of tourism enterprises,
government environmental regulation of tourism and guiding travelers to green consumption can
promote synergistic F-E-W emission reduction.