Water Equity in Tourism

Water Equity in Tourism

Water Equity in Tourism

Governments

1. The right to water and sanitation should not be compromised by tourism

Governments should uphold their international legal obligations to fulfil and protect the right to water and sanitation of citizens as a priority. Governments should issue guidelines to tourism businesses operating locally and overseas on their business responsibility to respect human rights.

2. Governments should implement clear regulations for sustainable and equitable water and tourism management

Destination governments should implement clear regulatory and institutional frameworks for sustainable, equitable, integrated water and tourism planning and management. Transgressors should be penalised; good practicies should be championed.

3. Land use and tourism planning should be based on assessments of water resources

Land use planning should be based on assessments of water resources and infrastructure, and tourism carrying capacities established. These should take into account livelihood needs, food security, population growth, climate change, and wider watershed degradation.

Industry

1. Tourism businesses should implement their business responsibility to respect the right to water

Tourism businesses should move beyond technical approaches and implement their business responsibility to respect the right to water and sanitation in their activities and supply chains

2. Tourism businesses should abide by the law

Tourism businesses should adhere to national regulations governing water use and waste management, even where these are poorly enforced. This includes paying for what they consume.

3. Tourism businesses should reduce their water consumption

Tourism businesses should work towards reducing their water consumption and contributing to water conservation by making use of existing industry guidelines.

All

1. Land use, tourism and water planning should be undertaken participatively

Land use, tourism and water planning should be undertaken transparently and participatively, with adequate community representation, particularly of women.

2. Governments and tourism businesses should be accountable to local communities

This includes providing access to redress where water rights have been adversely impacted.

3. Cooperation to further water equity should be pursued by all stakeholders

Cooperation and collaboration should be pursued by government, international donors, tourism and civil society stakeholders in resourcing and undertaking data collection, improvements to community water access, advocacy, capacity-building, technology transfer, and tourist sensitisation.