Estimating the direct and indirect water use of tourism in the eastern Mediterranean

Tourist attitudes towards water use in the developing world: A comparative analysis

“…Gössling et al, 2012;Cole 2012;Tourism Concern, 2012). There is also a growing interest in linking this agenda to the tourism and climate change nexus (Gössling, 2006;Gössling et al, 2012), with Hadjikakou et al, (2013) arguing that climate change could be the impetus needed for action on sustainability issues such as water.…”

“…Second, this low level of awareness might also be a reflection that environmental actions by businesses are simply not readily apparent to tourists because they are implemented 'behind the scenes', such as in food preparation, irrigation and laundry areas. Similarly, the majority of water consumption within tourist destinations relates to food (agriculture and preparation), garden-related activity and laundry (Hadjikakou et al, 2013), which tourists are not able to influence directly through their behaviour. Instead, focus needs to be placed on influencing the practices of food-related production rather than the tourists.…”

“…The paper is based on a comparative analysis of tourist attitudes towards water consumption and sustainability in both their home environment and whilst on holiday, focusing on the growing research agenda associated with water equity (Whitely, Ingram & Perry, 2008). As Hadjikakou, Chenoweth & Miller (2013) argue, there has been an oscillating interest in water issues in the wider sustainability debates due to the focus on carbon reduction and energy issues. Water equity refers to the UN's right to water and sanitation and, in the context of tourism, is considered as "Development that does not infringe upon or take precedence over the right to water of communities in destinations for essential personal, domestic and livelihood needs" (Tourism Concern, 2012: 5).…”

“…Gössling et al, 2012;Cole 2012; Tourism Concern, 2012). There is also a growing interest in linking this agenda to the tourism and climate change nexus (Gössling, 2006;Gössling et al, 2012), with Hadjikakou et al, (2013 arguing that climate change could be the impetus needed for action on sustainability issues such as water.Water as an issue epitomises the global-local debates in sustainability, since water scarcity is a local issue but also a global concern. The current situation for many small island destinations is a vicious circle of water equity issues as summarized in Figure 1, although an in-depth review of these issues is provided by Gössling et al, (2012).…”

“…According to Gössling et al, (2012), global water use is increasing mainly due to the fast growing population and economies in developing countries, which impacts upon their lifestyles and the expansion of irrigated agriculture to accommodate the food needs of a growing population. The awareness of water availability in destinations is heightened by global attention on environmental issues associated with climate change, carbon footprinting and scarcity of natural resources (Hadjikakou et al, 2013). A further strand of research in the emerging water-tourism nexus has also been the development of conflict between tourism and residents in some parts of the Mediterranean basin (Eurostat, 2009) given that mass tourism is a highly seasonal activity located in fragile environments characterised by water scarcity during the peak holiday season.…”