Travel Industry Water Usage Decreases Even As Sector Continues To Grow

Even while being one of the fastest growing sectors globally, the travel and tourism industry has managed to decrease its water usage worldwide.

The travel industry’s use of globally available freshwater declined from 5.8 percent in 2019 to 3.5 percent in 2021, according to a new report, Water Roadmap for Travel & Tourism, released today by the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The agriculture and food industry, by comparison, accounted for 70 percent of global water usage, the report notes.

"Despite the travel and tourism sector’s relatively low freshwater use, it remains heavily dependent on water and related ecosystems, and water scarcity or poor quality can significantly harm the customer experience and pose a threat to the viability of tourism destinations," cautions the report, which also points out there is much work still to be done in the industry with regard to water conservation. 

Europe and Africa lead decrease in water usage

Some destinations did better than others when it came to decreased water consumption, according to the report.

For instance, between 2010 and 2019, the travel and tourism industries in Asia Pacific, Americas, and the Middle East were found to have increased water usage amid a significant growth of international arrivals.

The travel industry in Europe and Africa, meanwhile, also experienced increased international arrivals during that same time frame (ticking upward 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively, from 2010 through 2019) but also managed to have a 1 percent decline in water consumption during that time.

In a press release accompanying the new report, the WTTC says there is more work to be done when it comes to minimizing water consumption.

"Growing water scarcity has become one of the most pressing challenges for sustainable development due to
decades of inadequate management, underinvestment, insufficient transboundary collaboration, and deterioration
of water-dependent ecosystems," says the report.

Estimates show that with current practices, the world is projected to face a 40 percent shortfall between expected demand and available supply of water by 2030.

Already, more than 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, while 4.2 billion lack access to safe sanitation services.

Water demand and usage from travel and tourism tend to be concentrated in specific locations and seasons but can exert significant pressure on these challenges, including on local water resources in highly water-stressed regions during the dry season or in ski resort areas reliant on snowmaking.

Bringing about continued change

Additional progress could be made by the industry if stakeholders take a “series of actions and [if] sustainable water practices are implemented globally,” says the WTTC report.

The WTTC worked with Accenture and Oxford Economics to develop a specific framework designed to help the global travel and tourism sector set water targets, reduce its water footprint, and increase water resilience.

(Photo Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

“Water scarcity is a pressing global issue that requires collective action,” Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said in a statement issued from Dubai, where the COP28 climate conference is taking place. “Travel and tourism, with its unique influence and global reach, is perfectly positioned to play a pivotal role in fostering sustainable water practices.”

The WTTC says it hopes its new report will inspire responsible water usage throughout the industry and progress toward a regenerative future.

"Travel and tourism businesses hold the capacity to inspire a circular and regenerative shift, which is essential to reduce their vulnerability and make a positive contribution to the overall health and integrity of the complex system within which they operate," says the new report.

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