Abstract
In the current global context, countries try to align their actions with the objective of better management of natural resources. Tourism, as one of the most significant economic sectors in the world economy, has complex implications for the sustainable use of natural resources. Focusing on one particular resource and considering the use of water in tourism, this chapter seeks to understand the extent to which standards and regulations apply to the sustainable use of water in the hotel industry. The chapter is based on an analysis of primary and secondary data relating to the tourism sector in an exploratory and comparative analysis of the tourist hospitality areas of two major cities: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Berlin (Germany). Results broadly show that tourists use more water than regular citizens do in comparable activities and highlight that recycling systems are the future of water use in major hotels. However, the existence of standards does not appear to have any strong or direct relationship to present activities aimed at sustainability in this context.
Highlights
Tourism is a key sector for studies related to sustainability and the use of natural resources towards truly inclusive development
The data references were based on the literature for grey water use, which estimates that freshwater consumption for high-end hotels with more than 100 rooms is, for example, 126 litres per day (l/day), considering exclusive individual use plus the use of 12 l/day for cleaning (Styles et al, 2015)
Several procedures are currently applied to mitigate the environmental impacts of major hospitality operations in tourist destinations, but, in most cases, they are driven by internal regulations, market strategies or certification
Summary
Tourism is a key sector for studies related to sustainability and the use of natural resources towards truly inclusive development. The sector is responsible for nearly 10% of the world’s GDP and for the generation of 280 million jobs. In 2015, approximately 1 billion tourists performed domestic or international trips, circulating trillions of dollars in the world economy (World Travel & Tourism Council, 2016). Cited by the United Nations (UN) as the strongest sector for job creation (United Nations General Asembly, 2014), it is, responsible for an aggressive use of resources such as water, food, wood and fossil fuels. Despite the fact that it is an industry related to leisure and cultural awareness, the sector has a deep impact on the use of natural resources and natural services. The fact is that human beings have always needed this natural
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