Water is one of the most critical and scarce resources for the tourism activity. Water resources (i.e., fresh water, beaches, coastal resources, lakes, rivers, etc.) are one of the key attractions for tourists and, at the same time, tourism activity is one of the most important water consumers and determinants of degradation of water resources. Thus, it is crucial to examine and understand the interrelationships existing between tourism and water, as well as its consequences. Basing on this approach, the present thesis is designed in order to accomplish three main objectives. In particular, first, to examine the possible impacts of tourism activity on water resources (lakes water environment); second, to understand the main drivers that can explain the behaviour of water consumption within the tourism lodging sector; and finally, to analyse the importance of water as a part of a lake destination image, as well as the behavioural intentions of visitors in a lake destination. All these objectives are focus in our study area, the Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area, located in Akmola region of the Northern Kazakhstan. The results obtained in our research indicate that the lakes of the region are facing environmental issues in terms of surface area decline and water quality deterioration. One of the possible determinants of this phenomenon can be the significant growth observed in the tourism lodging facilities in the study area. In this sense, our findings reveal that the lodging sector is responsible for a considerable part of water consumption within tourism industry in the area. We analysed which are the factors that determine the levels of water consumption at the lodging facilities, including both their physical and management characteristics. The results conclude that the size of the facilities and the pools constitute significant variables. The number of meals served, is also a significant variable to explain water consumption. Finally, the study concludes that sanatoriums are those types of accommodation with higher levels of water consumption (probably due to the nature of health and wellbeing services included in these facilities), while guesthouses are those with lower levels. Therefore, it is advisable to target them in efficient water use practices, which in turn will result to reduce sewage and protect lake water from pollution. Our study also reveals that the introduction of water saving measures, however their reduced implantation, constitutes an effective tool to reduce the levels of water consumption. With regard to the visitors’ perceptions on the lakes and the lake destination, our study finds a significant impact of water quality on satisfaction with lakes. However, it is interesting to note, that water quality was the only dimension that did not have a significant impact on satisfaction with the entire lake destination, despite its high influence on satisfaction with the lake. This last finding corroborates, in some way, with previous specific studies where polluted lakes did not prevent people from visiting lake destinations (Ryan et al., 2010). Nevertheless, in the case of our study area, it is certainly of value to improve water quality of the lakes, as the motivations of the visitors related to relaxing and health improvement as well as socialising and being active have a significant impact on this dimension of the lake image and the lake destination image. Thus, the success and sustainability of tourism activity requires ensuring a good water quality level of the lakes. Thus, due to the relevance of water quality, along with the lake environment and facilities and services across the destination, these three components should receive greater focus in the promotion of lake destinations. The research area of water and tourism nexus is relatively new and with an important gap in the literature. Thus, more contributions are needed in order to a better understand of the interrelationships between tourism and water, as well as its consequences. Nevertheless, this thesis provides insights into the importance of water resources for the tourism activity, the tourism water consumption, the tourism impacts on water resources, and the attractiveness of water resources attributes for tourism activity. Based on the research findings, theoretical and practical implications were drawn for policymakers, local authorities, lake destination and accommodation business managers.
Read full abstract
Jun 30, 2021
Alla Pranevich + 6
Open Access