According to WTTC, the water footprint of tourism is less than 1% of the world total

The intensity of the sector has been reduced by a fifth thanks to different initiatives

(WTTC)

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Saudi Arabia-based Global Center for Sustainable Tourism have released groundbreaking new data detailing the sector's total water use. 

In one of the largest research projects of its kind, the organization can, for the first time, accurately report and track the impact the industry has on the environment. 

The findings were presented today at the United Nations in New York at the 2023 UN Water Conference.

Direct water use
Speaking at the UN Headquarters, Chris Imbsen, WTTC Director of Sustainability, revealed that Travel & Tourism's total water footprint is only 0.6% of global water use according to the latest figures (2021). . 
In 2019, when the sector was at its peak, the total water footprint of the sector was only 50% higher, but still less than 1% of the global total at 0.9%. 
Travel & Tourism's direct water use is significantly lower: in 2019 it was 0.2% of the world total and has halved to just 0.1% of the world total. 
Much of the sector's water use is indirect, through its supply chain, with agriculture and food production accounting for two-thirds of Travel & Tourism's total water footprint.
Between 2010 and 2019, the travel and tourism sector in Europe and Africa reduced direct water use. In Europe, the direct use of water fell by 8% and in Africa the direct use of water by the sector fell by 6%. 

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, said: "This groundbreaking new data reveals our industry's water consumption for the first time in history, revealing that travel and tourism uses less than 1% of the water used worldwide. the world, with the vast majority of that use coming from the sector's supply chain. 
”The data also shows that while the sector has grown economically around the world, its direct use water intensity has declined. 
“The data is the industry's most in-depth study of water use and, like the world's first climate footprint data we published at our Global Summit in Riyadh last year, we can also reveal the travel and tourism from individual countries. footprints. This will allow governments to work with the sector to further reduce water consumption.” 

Water intensity 
Travel & Tourism's water intensity per unit of GDP has also decreased since 2010, both in direct and indirect use.  
In 2010, the sector used 0.57 m³ of water for every $1 USD it contributed to the global economy. 
In 2019, it fell by 19% to 0.46m³ of water for every $1 USD contributed to the world economy. 

For the first time in the world, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries in all regions and will be updated each year with revised figures. 

This research was made possible through a partnership between WTTC and the Saudi Arabia-based Global Center for Sustainable Tourism. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, more than 60 initiatives were launched last year, representing more than $186,000,000,000 USD of investment in the green economy.


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