“Water and Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by UNWTO, the Government of Austria, the World Travel and Tourism Council and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

• All Regions
• 23 Mar 23

23 March 2023 | 18:30 - 19:45, Room CR 6 | UN Headquarters, NY

In 1977, world leaders, water experts and policymakers from around the world gathered in Mar del Plata, Argentina, for the UN Water Conference. In a few days, almost 50 years later, the global community will come together in New York for the second ever UN 2023 Water Conference. Formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028) the conference will take place at UN Headquarters in New York, 22-24 March, co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands.

This Conference is not only a unique opportunity for the world to come together and accelerate and scale the collective action achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 and all other water-related goals and targets. It is a once-in-a-generation chance to get the world on track for a water-secure world for all, everywhere.

The outcome of the UN 2023 Conference will be a summary of the Conference proceedings and new commitments, pledges and actions by Governments and all stakeholders towards achieving SDG 6, compiled in the Water Action Agenda. The Agenda is a collection of water-related voluntary commitments and action across countries and sectors to meet the global water and sanitation related goals and targets. Therefore, all sectors, including tourism, must put water at the centre of their action plans to ensure sustainable water management at all levels.

Introduction

Water is a key resource in tourism and services to tourists are very dependent on it. Water can become a constraint to sustainable development, especially when water is a scarce resource. While new innovative water supplies can be difficult to obtain and costly (e.g. import, desalinization), conservation is one means to reduce or mitigate demand (e.g. recycling waste or grey water). In addition, the management of liquid waste (sewage) is a key concern for tourism as pollution of the key resources- beaches, rivers and lakes- can be a major concern for tourism, not only degrading the destination and harming the local communities, but also contributing to disease and damage to wildlife and natural resources. While tourism accounts for a minor share of global water use in comparison to agriculture, the tourism sector is operating in areas with limited freshwater availability. This causes challenges but also opportunities as the tourism sector, if well planned and managed, can also contribute positively to a conscious use of resources. The recently launched alliance between UNWTO, WTTC and SHA for a Nature Positive Travel & Tourism Sector, stresses the sector’s commitment but also ability to contribute to positive change in destinations.  Therefore, all sectors, including tourism, must put water at the centre of their action plans to ensure sustainable water management at all levels.

Watch here the Water & Tourism side event

Links:

• UN 2023 Water Conference - Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• One Planet - UNWTO
• UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories
• Tourism in the 2030 Agenda