Waste management in touristic regions

摘要

Tourism is one of the most important industries worldwide and a driver for socioeconomic development in many regions, particularly developing countries with unique cultural, historic and natural resources. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism revenues reached a record of US$1245 billion in 2014. Moreover, an additional US$221 billion was generated from international passenger transport, bringing total exports from international tourism up to US$1500 billion. However, tourism has been recognised as a high energy and water resources demanding activity, simultaneously generating significant amounts of solid wastes from lodgings and recreational areas. On the global scale, this situation has been already highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In fact, during 2011 UNEP estimated a worldwide solid waste generation of 4.8milliont just from international tourism, representing about 14% of the total municipal solid wastes generated during this year.