Further information 
Conducted for the European Travel Commission, this study addresses two topics linking tourism and the environment: the impact of tourism on air quality in 32 European cities, and the connection between tourism and urbanization expansion in three European countries.
1) Impact of Tourism on Air Quality in 32 European Cities:
For each pilot city, a comprehensive air quality index is calculated, enabling a ranking to be produced. A comparative analysis with tourist flows reveals distinct seasonal variations in air quality, attributed to the interplay of meteorological factors and tourism-related activities. Tourism notably affects pollution levels (SO2 and NO2), primarily through ground and air transport, which are significant contributors to air quality fluctuations.
Additionally, a statistical study evaluating the impact of local public policies on air quality in Sofia and Madrid demonstrates that well-designed policy changes have a rapid and significant effect on air quality.
2) Link between Tourism and Urbanization Expansion in 3 European Countries:
An observational study of urbanization trends is conducted in Portugal, Slovenia, and Denmark to identify tourism infrastructure types and the profile of tourism activities in these countries. For instance, in Lisbon and Copenhagen, the study reveals that urbanization in certain areas (such as along the Tagus River in Lisbon) is influenced by tourism activities.
This study underscores that continuous monitoring of air quality is crucial for understanding tourism dynamics and that using tourism urbanization indicators relative to overall urbanization in different zones is a promising approach for identifying tourism's influence areas.
