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"Plane Truths: Do the economic arguments for aviation growth really fly?”

Tourism, Climate Change and Economic Impacts


Due to the high leakages in tourism, stagnation instead of economic growth in the aviation sector would not seriously affect developing countries. As Antje Monshausen summarises, a study by the World Development Movements and the New Economics Foundation, London, has shown that a mere quantitative increase in visitor numbers would not increase the economic benefit of tourism for developing countries. At the same time, in order to achieve climate mitigation targets, air travel would have to become significantly more expensive. Short haul flights would need to be put at a financial disadvantage while promoting eco-friendlier transport systems.

Plane Truths: Do the economic arguments for aviation growth really fly? By Victoria Johnson, Martin Cottingham et al. Published by World Development Movement (WDM), London, 2008. ISBN 978-1-904-88238-1. 56 pages.

Download: www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/climate/planetruths27092008.pdf

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(146 words, 14 lines, December 2008, TW 53)