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Beyond Greening: Reflections on Tourism in the Rio-Process | Positioningpaperreportedly become increasingly saline. However, piped supplies are inadequate, and powercuts frequently halt water flow. In the village of Jambiani, another major resort area, a threemonthelectricity outage in 2010 led to a cholera outbreak in which at least four people died(Tourism Concern, 2012; Slade, 2011). This suggests that sewage from unlined soak-pits –which are widely used by hotels – had leached into the ground.In the densely built up resort of Calangute, Goa, one elderly resident reports: "All these hotelsget a good supply of water. They can afford to buy from the [private] tankers. There are noregulations for these… We only get water every second day from the public supply and onlyfor a couple of hours. This is hardly enough. Luckily I’m OK as I have my well... but the waterlevel is depleting" (Tourism Concern, 2012). In Kerala, in the backwater regions of Alappuzhaand Kottayam, many marginalised communities depend upon the backwaters – an intricatesystem of lakes and waterways – for washing, drinking and bathing, and for fishing andfarming – their main livelihood sources. An explosion in houseboat numbers offeringbackwater tours is causing major pollution and degradation of this precious ecosystem,threatening the health and livelihoods of local people (ibid).In The Gambia, most hotels dig their own boreholes to counter unreliable piped supplies.However, this practice is entirely unmonitored. Hoteliers broadly consider water fromboreholes as free and unlimited, while many report having faulty water meters. This meansthey have little idea of how much water they consume, and pay the same rates to the underresourcedwater authorities regardless of occupancy levels (Tourism Concern, 2012; Latchfordand Niang, 2011).The water demands of resort developments in Bali, which are themselves inflating land valuesand with them the taxes farmers must pay, are fuelling an unprecedented loss of agriculturalland. Experts warn of a pending water crisis, engendering risks to food security, theenvironment, as well as Bali’s tourism industry (ibid; Cole, 2012).Principles of water equity in tourismAll tourism and water stakeholders have aresponsibility to work together to redress theseissues. However, particular responsibility restswith governments, and those inequitablyconsuming water, in positions of power and withgreater access to resources. Tourism Concern hasdeveloped nine "Principles of Water Equity inTourism" which aim to galvanize more equitablemanagement of water resources in tourismdevelopment (Tourism Concern, 2012; Slade,2011; CRT, 2011; Latchford and Niang, 2011).1. The right to water and sanitation should not be compromised by tourismGovernments should uphold their international legal obligations to fulfil and protect the rightto water and sanitation of citizens as a priority. Governments should issue guidelines totourism businesses operating locally and overseas on their business responsibility to respecthuman rights.44
Beyond Greening: Reflections on Tourism in the Rio-Process | Positioningpaper2. Governments should implement clear regulations for equitable and sustainable water andtourism managementDestination governments should implement clear regulatory and institutional frameworks forsustainable, equitable, integrated water and tourism planning and management. Transgressorsshould be penalised; good examples should be championed.3. Land use and tourism planning should be based on assessments of water resourcesLand use planning should be based on assessments of water resources and infrastructure, andtourism carrying capacities established. These should take into account livelihood needs, foodsecurity, population growth, climate change, and wider watershed degradation.4. Land use, tourism and water planning should be undertaken participativelyLand use, tourism and water planning should be undertaken transparently and participatively,with adequate community representation, particularly of women.5. Governments and tourism businesses should be accountable to local communitiesThis includes providing access to redress where water rights have been violated.6. Tourism businesses should implement their business responsibility to respect the right towaterTourism businesses should move beyond technical approaches and implement their businessresponsibility to respect the right to water and sanitation in their activities and supply chains.7. Tourism businesses should abide by the lawTourism businesses should adhere to national regulations governing water use and wastemanagement, even where these are poorly enforced. This includes paying for what theyconsume.8. Tourism businesses should reduce their water consumptionTourism businesses should work towards reducing their water consumption and contributingto water conservation by making use of existing industry guidelines.9. Cooperation to further water equity should be pursued by all stakeholdersCooperation 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.ReferencesCenter for Responsible Tourism, Goa (2011): Reclaiming water rights: Towards an equitable socialcontract in Goa. Center for Responsible Tourism, Goa, for Tourism Concern, 2011.Cole, S. (2012): A political ecology of water equity in tourism’, Annals of Tourism Research 39 (3),2012. (Forthcoming)Latchford, R. and Niang, D. (2011): Water equity in tourism in The Gambia. Senghore Associates forTourism Concern, 2011.SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute): www.siwi.orgSlade, L. (2011): Water Equity in Tourism: Zanzibar Case Study, Villages of Kiwengwa, Nungwi andJambiani’. Report by Mwambao Coastal Community Network for Tourism Concern.45
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