## 3 Results and Discussion
### Ecological Compensation Mechanism for the Tourism Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic
#### 3.3.3 Calculation of Ecological Compensation Amounts in Tourism Industry  
Based on the estimation of carbon emissions and vegetation carbon sequestration in the tourism industry in China from 2019 to 2020 and considering the average carbon trading price in the Chinese carbon trading market since its establishment until February 2022, the carbon ecological compensation amount for scenic areas in the 31 provinces of China in 2020 is calculated (Figure 6). The four provinces of Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Qinghai, and Ningxia have relatively lower reductions in carbon emissions and carbon sequestration in the tourism industry. The reduction in carbon emissions in the tourism industry in Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Ningxia is below 2 million tons. Among them, the reduction in carbon emissions in the tourism industry in Qinghai and Ningxia is around 500,000 tons. In 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ningxia and Qinghai was less than one hundred, and the impact of the pandemic on people's regular travel was relatively small. However, their tourism revenue experienced a significant decline of 50%. Therefore, for the effective ecological compensation amount in their tourism sector, the reduction in carbon emissions in their tourism industry in 2020 is used, and the calculation is adjusted using the coefficient representing the extent of damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry. The provinces of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, and Guangxi have ecological compensation amounts in the tourism industry exceeding CNY 400 million. Among these, except for Beijing and Shanghai, the other six provinces experienced an 80% reduction in carbon emissions in the tourism industry in 2020. Beijing and Shanghai had many confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020 and were severely affected by the pandemic. They also had more natural scenic areas than most provinces and cities. In terms of incremental carbon sink recovery, Henan and Hubei provinces rank first and second in carbon sequestration recovery among the 31 provinces and municipalities. Guangxi has a carbon sequestration recovery volume of up to 9.3 million tons. Apart from Guangxi, the other seven provinces have a developed economy and a low regional Engel coefficient, indicating a stronger willingness among residents for compensation than other provinces. Provinces and municipalities with ecological tourism compensation exceeding CNY 200 million include Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Chongqing, and Guizhou. Apart from Guangdong and Chongqing, the other five provinces reduced tourism-related carbon emissions by over 80% in 2020. Hebei, Shanxi, and Guangdong have witnessed a carbon sequestration increase in their scenic areas of more than 6.5 million tons. These seven provinces have experienced a tourism revenue decline of over 50% compared to 2020. The pandemic has significantly affected Jiangxi and Guangdong, while the impact on the other provinces has been relatively minor. However, these provinces have a relatively high concentration of natural scenic areas. Provinces and municipalities with ecological tourism compensation exceeding CNY 100 million include Tianjin, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. These seven provinces and municipalities achieved an average reduction in tourism-related  
Figure 6: Amount of ecological compensation for tourism in 31 provinces (cities) of China. carbon emissions of around 75% in 2020. Except for Tianjin, Hunan, and Shaanxi, which showed positive carbon sequestration increases, the other provinces had negative carbon sequestration increments in 2020. These provinces have a lower concentration of scenic areas compared to the previous two tiers of provinces. Provinces and regions with ecological tourism compensation below CNY 100 million include Heilongjiang, Hainan, Yunnan, Tibet, Gansu, and Xinjiang. These six provinces and regions had relatively lower reductions in tourism-related carbon emissions in 2020 compared to other provinces.