Exploring Residents' Perceptions of the Hotel Industry's Impact on Water Resources

Abstract

Understanding residents' perceptions regarding the environmental impact of tourism activities in a destination, including the depletion of water resources, is essential when it comes to promoting coexistence between tourism development and the local population. This study aims to analyse residents' perceptions of hotel-related water consumption to provide key information for sustainable tourism development without harming the quality of life of the inhabitants. The research involved a survey of 806 residents of the Canary Islands (Spain), an area with intense tourist activity and water scarcity. The findings highlight that residents' perceptions of hotel activities as potential competitors for water resources with other sectors can significantly influence their support for the hotel industry. Additionally, the awareness of the behaviour of both tourists and hotels, and the ethical water consumption favourably affect the support of the resident population for the hotel activities.