Tourism investment for utilities can play a critical role in achieving water access and security, as well as hygiene and sanitation for all in tourism destinations and their surroundings. The efficient use of water in tourism, coupled with appropriate safety measures, wastewater management, pollution control and technology efficiency can be key to safeguarding our most precious resource.
There are six targets within SDG 6 that are deemed to have a ensure the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. These targets have been selected to base the potential project indicators.
TARGET 6.2
BY 2030, ACHIEVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR ALL AND END OPEN DEFECATION, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THOSE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS.
Good sanitation is important for tourism as the sector is highly susceptible to perceptions or images of a destination, hence if tourists are dissatisfied with sanitation facilities in a country, they may not be likely to revisit and this would in turn discourage other potential tourists as well. Poor sanitation and hygiene and inadequate quantities and quality of clean water are responsible for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) related diseases.
The target pays special attention to the needs of women and girls, as well as people in vulnerable situations, and specified disaggregation and data collection are needed. Consultations with vulnerable groups may be required. Tourism development projects can contribute to this target through safely managed sanitation services including providing hygienic toilet facilities, safe management, treatment and disposal of waste produced. Division of hygiene facilities for female tourism workers is also an important consideration given the negative impacts on dignity, privacy and personal safety for women and girls.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Health / Sanitation and hygiene protocols/guidelines
Infrastructure / Sanitation facilities
Education and training / Awareness raising
TARGET 6.3
BY 2030, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BY REDUCING POLLUTION, ELIMINATING DUMPING AND MINIMIZING RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS, HALVING THE PROPORTION OF UNTREATED WASTEWATER AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING RECYCLING AND SAFE REUSE GLOBALLY.
The tourism sector has a responsibility to conserve natural resources, particularly water, as water supply is now a pressing issue in many parts of the world, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Tourism can place a great strain on freshwater resources in areas where water scarcity exists, and the need to deal with wastewater in a sustainable manner is now seen as essential for the ongoing potential of a tourism destination. The management of waste and wastewater is a key concern for tourism. The tourism industry has frequently been harmed by contamination of its key assets, pollution both from resorts themselves and from local communities and industries can degrade the destination and may also cause diseases and damage to wildlife and natural resources.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Legal frameworks, policies and rule of law / Tourism policies and strategies
Natural resource management / Water
Natural resource management / Environment management system/plan
Tourism value chain / Sustainable procurement
Education and training / Capacity building
TARGET 6.4
BY 2030, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE WATER-USE EFFICIENCY ACROSS ALL SECTORS AND ENSURE SUSTAINABLE WITHDRAWALS AND SUPPLY OF FRESHWATER TO ADDRESS WATER SCARCITY AND SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM WATER SCARCITY.
This target relates to tourism as it has, as an economic activity, increasingly added to local and seasonal pressures on water supply systems in tourism destinations around the world. Depending on geographical location and environmental and/or climate conditions, the main water-consuming facilities are irrigated gardens, swimming pools, spa and wellness services, as well as golf courses, followed by cooling towers (where used), guest rooms and kitchens.
However, while direct water use is more relevant for water management in the destination, indirect water use has a greater impact on overall water use. In particular, food and fuel production have been shown to have comparably large water footprints: transport to the destination alone can more than double indirect water use. It is necessary to establish a plan to ensure that the residents, farmers, and other industries do not suffer from water scarcity due to the extensive usage of water in the tourism sector.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Natural resource management / Water
TARGET 6.5
BY 2030, IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THROUGH TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION AS APPROPRIATE.
Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable and sustainable manner. Reporting on the status of water resources management supports its implementation at national and global levels. At the national level, multi-stakeholder processes bring actors from different sectors together, reaching agreement on the status of implementation and identifying gaps in progress. Tourism stakeholders at all levels can support this target by working together with government bodies, community groups and other tourism companies to improve local water governance and to address identified challenges in water-related tourism projects.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Natural resource management / Water
TARGET 6.6
BY 2020, PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING MOUNTAINS, FORESTS, WETLANDS, RIVERS, AQUIFERS AND LAKES.
Mountains, forests wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes offer significant opportunities for tourism, which can in turn deliver economic benefits for local communities. Furthermore, water-related ecosystems provide essential services such as supply of water, food and energy. Thus, the impact on biodiversity and ecosystems must be controlled and sustainably managed. By contributing to this target, the resilience of tourism could also be strengthened through the development of crisis management systems in national and regional tourism destinations covered by Article 4 of the UNFCCC in 1992.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Natural resource management / Water
TARGET 6.b
SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVING WATER AND SANITATION MANAGEMENT
The participation of local communities is vital to ensure the needs of all members of the community are met, including for the most vulnerable, and encourages ownership of schemes, which, in turn, contributes to their sustainability. Tourism development projects can encourage individuals and local communities to meaningfully contribute to decisions and directions about water and sanitation management to ensure the sustainability of water and sanitation management options over time, for example., the choice of appropriate solutions for a given social and economic context, and the full understanding of the impacts of a certain development decision.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Local community / Local community participation
