Water is an increasingly limited resource in more and more destinations around the world.

The tourism industry and hoteliers in particular need to take responsibility for reducing its consumption in places where water is becoming scarcer otherwise there will be an increasing conflict between the industry, farmers and local communities unable to meet their water need.

This key conflict is highlighted in the WTM Tourism and Water Report 2007 released today on WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, in conjunction with the report's compilers the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University.

Key report findings:

• 96% of respondents said they felt water was an issue the tourism industry ought to address
• 92% said they felt water was an issue they should address
• 53% believed that water shortages were already affecting their business. This is even before the onslaught of predicted climate change, demand increases and associated water scarcity in the next 5-10 years
• 68% of hotels do not provide assistance to increase access to portable water for local communities
• 13% assist the community with water and 11% with sewage
• 5% knew of other schemes in the tourism industry to provide potable water for local communities
• 7% donated to a water related charity
• Those hotels that are engaging in activity to conserve water are making a real difference to the local communities as they recognise that clean water improves health, education and quality of life

The key issue facing the industry is where water is diverted to meet the requirements of tourists, it can severely deplete local aquifers and drain water courses, leaving local people short of water. Large resort developments require significant amounts of water which are extracted from the local boreholes.

 In areas of water scarcity this reduces the amount of water available for local people. The tourism industry is able to pay more for water than locals. It is the poor who go short of water. As Nelson Mandela commented at the 2002 at the Earth Summit : "No water, no future."

The European Environment Agency has highlighted that "in the Mediterranean, it is not uncommon for a tourist to use on average over four times as much water as a local resident."

Water literacy

The report cites the need for ‘water literacy' – educating tourists, hotels owners, staff and local people about the importance of water conservation and how to approach water conservation measures.

As Harold Goodwin of the ICRT comments: "Reducing the consumption of water by tourists and tourism businesses can be achieved through a combination of behavioural, operational and technological changes, many of which are not costly to instigate and are barely noticed by guests, but these changes have a big impact on water use and associated costs. That the tourism industry is not doing more is surprising and somewhat depressing."

Apathy needs to be eradicated

There is still though a high level of apathy from hoteliers as illustrated by the numbers who responded to the survey for the report. Harold Goodwin continues: "Over 1,500 hotel and hotel groups were contacted with less than 10% replying.

This suggests that far too few hotel managers take this issue seriously despite the impact tourism has on water supplies in destinations around the world. What however was pleasing is that those who did reply highlighted the excellent work being undertaken to reduce water consumption".

World Travel Market taking a lead

The ‘No water, no future' issue is not just confined to the hotel sector. World Travel Market has been instrumental in helping raising the issue through the founding, by Chairman Fiona Jeffery nine years ago, of the charity Just A Drop on behalf of the international travel industry.

She comments: "I am absolutely passionate and committed to highlighting the importance of delivering clean water and sanitation to children and their families in some of the remotest parts of the world.

"The problem is the majority of us take having access to clean water totally for granted. You don't appreciate its value until you don't have it.

"By commissioning this report we are hoping to raise people consciousness and help promote more responsible practices in tourism business and consumer behaviour. It doesn't take a lot to make a significant difference as Just a Drop has proven."

To date the charity has raised nearly $1.6 million and helped over 800,000 children and their families living mostly in remote areas in 24 countries. There is no better time than today for the industry, on the first WTM World Responsible Tourism Day and in light of the report, to help needy local communities by improving water management practices or by supporting Just a Drop's community work in the field.

Top tips for travellers to save water

• Change behaviour to save water. The less water used, the more is left in local resources
• Turn off the tap when brushing teeth – this can save up to 5 litres a minute
• Follow guidelines provided by hotels about changing towels and sheets in order to save water and energy
• Take a shower instead of a bath – 50 litres can be saved. In island resorts like the Maldives, all the water has to be treated so it is very expensive and should not be wasted
• If a tap is dripping, report it to staff – a dripping tap can waste as much as 90 litres a week
• Be aware and follow water conservation rules or guidelines – eg when rinsing feet/clothes/equipment don't leave the tap running, fill the sink and soak in one go
• Conserve water – don't waste it just because someone else is footing the bill as in the end all of us pay for it as water is a finite global resource – and the local poor pay proportionately much more for their water. They have to walk further to fetch or pay more from their scarce cash resources for the water they need to survive.

The report can be downloaded from www.wtmlondon.com and www.icrtourism.org

Just a Drop website for donations – www.justadrop.org