Tangible ways forward
Ensuring availability and access to water for all
Good governance is key to this issue, including proper regulatory frameworks, monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations, adequate planning and accountability. As women bear the burdens of water scarcity, they need to be engaged fully in finding local solutions in a fair and democratic manner (>> Goal 5). Water should be treated as a social and cultural good, and not primarily as an economic good. Privatisation of water supplies should be strongly opposed as being against public interests and good governance. Governments need to act strongly to improve equitable access to water and sanitation for all of their people and not just for some (>> Goal 10). Tourist companies and tourists them- selves need to see themselves as guardians of these rights in order to maintain pressure on government agencies and hotels to follow good practice (>> Goal 16 Governance).
Sustainable management
As before, there is a need for a comprehensive regulatory framework to establish sustainable management practice. The tourist industry itself should look to its practice in order to ensure its own sustainability. Education is needed at all levels to ensure a full understanding of issues raised by sustainability (>> Goal 4). Tourists themselves can play a part in supporting efforts to change for the better, putting pressure on government agencies and tourist companies to play a responsible role (>> Goal 12). Effective planning regulations are essential.
Sanitation for all
There needs to be proper enforcement of strong regulations. Local communities need to be educated to play their part in local enforcement of standards. Use of the waterways needs to be properly regulated and monitored. The tourist industry can play an important, proactive part in helping to raise awareness and standards. Taxes raised from the industry should be used to gain improvements. Educational efforts could be targeted on women, children and marginalised groups – notably indigenous peoples – to ensure that they are fully involved in efforts to gain improvements.
Role of governments
Governments are obliged to respect, fulfil and protect the rights to water and sanitation of their citizens. This means taking active measures to extend these rights to all citizens and governments are obliged to protect water rights against abuses by corporate interests including those engaged in tourism – such as over extraction, appropriation and pollution of water resources.
Water rights
Water rights are frequently bound up with the ways in which people earn their livelihoods. Population growth, scientific progress and climate change (>> Goal 13) are all having an effect on these often traditional ways of life. Yet it is important to treat people’s rights and customs with respect and to acknowledge their own expertise. If water rights are to be protected for all, the process should include everyone in the debate and the development of strategies for best ways forward – for only then can we be sure of proper implementation.
Tour operators and hotel groups
International tour operators and multinational hotel groups have a vested interest and responsibility to understand and address these issues and to influence local counterparts and authorities accordingly. The tourism sector can play a key role in capacity building, technology transfer, sensitization and advocacy. Those engaged in good practice need to share expertise and serve as examples to others. Tourists must be sensitized to how they can reduce their water consumption in support of water equity.
Tourism cannot thrive in a destination that lacks water and cannot deal with its waste. Tourists surely have a moral duty to ensure that their travel does not endanger others.