Tourism and Water Nexus

SPECIAL SESSION AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON TOURISM (ICOT 2015)
CALL FOR PAPERS ON:
Advancing Knowledge in Sustainable Tourism Development:
Tourism and Water Nexus
Organised by
Dr. Elena Ridolfi*
London, U.K.
24th – 27th June 2015
SCOPE
Tourism as a social and economic activity is growing constantly around the world and is used in
many countries as an instrument of economic development. However, if is not managed properly
through policy and governance measures it can damage and add significant pressures on local
resources like water. Water is indeed one of the most critical natural resources, it is a key element
for development and one of tourism’s main asset. The tourism industry is generating particular
concern about water uses for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses, personal uses and other tourist
facilities since this can generate water shortages, degradation of water supplies, as well as a
consistent production of waste water. Some evidences come from the Mediterranean, the most
visited tourist region in the world with 300 million arrivals per year, where the issue of water
scarcity is of particular concern and tourism puts substantial pressure on water supplies and
management. The Mediterranean is also the region that has been explored most in terms of water
use in tourism, but pressures on local water resources have also been observed in many fastgrowing Asian destinations and elsewhere.
Tourism is expected to impose significant strains on water resources. However, research on
tourism and water is plagued by a lack of specific data, information and knowledge about intricate
networks of power relations and interests. Therefore the aim of this session is to understand how
tourism and water interact in different destinations, and what are the implications in the process of
policy-making and governance, stakeholder engagement, public participation.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
This special session invites contributions that adopt an interdisciplinary perspective on sustainable
tourism development with a special focus on the emerging issues and challenges related to
tourism-water nexus, to advance knowledge about policy tools and good practices, as well as to
stimulate discussion and exchange new ideas.
This special session invites in particular papers that attempt to address the following key issues:
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Theoretical Perspectives on Tourism (Political Ecology of Tourism is very welcomed)
Tourism Research and Methodology
Case studies from developed and developing countries or countries in transition
Tourism Development, Policy and Planning
Tourism and Water Equity
Local government role and responses to sustainable tourism development
Top down and bottom up approaches to tourism and water governance issues
Community Responses to tourists and tourism and uses of natural resources
Economic/Social/Environmental impacts of tourism on water resources
Authenticity and Commodification
SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
Abstracts of no more than 350 words should be submitted electronically by Friday 5th June
2015 to: Dr. Elena Ridolfi, E.mail: elena.ridolfi.ueir@gmail.com. The submissions should
preferably be in word document format and the subject line should mention Special SessionICOT 2015.
Papers presented at the special session will be considered for publication in a special issue of the
“International Journal of Tourism Policy”. For further enquiries regarding conference fees,
conference programme, recommended accommodation, maps/instructions, and registration forms,
please visit the web address at http://www.iatour.net/icot2015/.
*Department of Geography, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Building B, Campus UAB,
08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. E.mail: elena.ridolfi.ueir@gmail.com
Elena Ridolfi is Associate Researcher in Environmental Governance and Tourism in the
Department of Geography, at Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. She has a double
doctoral degree in Geography (Spain) and Urban Planning and Public Policies (Italy). Prior to
that she obtained a BSc in Urban Science and Territorial Planning; an European Joint Master
degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Policies, (Italy); and a MSc in Regional and
Population Studies (Spain). She is committed in tourism research with a strong interest in tourismwater nexus.