Klingbeil, R. & Sabran, A., 2013. Water and Sustainable Development in the Tourism Industry: Examples from the Region. Presentation at the Oman Water Society (OWS) "Seminar on Water for Sustainable Tourism Industry", Nizwa, Oman, 24-25 Sep 2013.

1. Water and Sustainable Development
in the Tourism Industry:
Examples from the Region
Nizwa, Oman
24-25 September 2013
Ralf Klingbeil
Augustin Sabran

2. Outline
• UN ESCWA:
The UN Regional Commission for Oman
• ESCWA Assistance to Member States
• Green Help Desk – Oman
• Examples from the Region for
Water, Sustainable Development and Tourism
• Suggestions for Recommendations
www.escwa.un.org 227 September 2013

3. 27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org 3
UN ESCWA

4. Sustainable Development and
Productivity Division
27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org 4
Implementation
Approach
Regional Convening
Power for
Intergovernmental
Mechanisms
Informing Regional
Processes for
Global Negotiations
and National Action
Partnerships
Productive
Sectors Section
Green Economy
Food Security
Sustainable
Development
Goals
Energy
Section
Energy
Efficiency
Renewable
Energy
Energy
Security
Water
Resources
Section
Shared Water
Resources
Climate Change
Adaptation
MDGs
Integrated Water
Resources
Management
Support to Intergovernmental Mechanisms
ESCWA Committees (Water/Energy); LAS Councils: CAMRE (JCEDAR), AMWC, AMCE

5. Green Help Desk (GHD)
The Green Help Desk aims to
support production sectors –
particularly small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) – to engage
in the emerging green economy
by developing their products
and/or their production
processes to become in line with
the principles and objectives of
sustainable development.
5
Development
Objective
27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org

6. GHD in Oman
27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org 6
Establishing GHD
Sustainable Packaging Workshop

7. GHD: Immediate Objectives
Increase understanding among production
sectors / SMEs of green national, regional and
international policies and programmes
Increase access by production sectors / SMEs to
information and resources on national / local
green production opportunities and options
Improve access by production sectors / SMEs to
capacity-building opportunities supporting green
production
27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org 7
1
2
3

8. Lebanon: UoTM
• Union of Tyre Region Municipalities (UoTM)
• Sustainable Tourism for South Lebanon, 2012
• Awareness Raising Workshop in Tyre for
Representatives from South Lebanon on
Responsible Eco-Tourism in the Framework of
Green Economy and Sustainable Development
• Cooperation with
Union of Tyre Region Municipalities (UoTM) and
UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
27 September 2013 www.escwa.un.org 8

9. Oman: MRMWR
• Ministry of Regional Municipalities and
Water Resources (MRMWR)
• Training Course
“Mathematical Methods in ArcGIS Applications for
Analysis and Display of Hydrogeological Data and
Information”, 22-24 Sep 2013
• Objectives:
• Enhanced knowledge and strengthened
capacity of MRMWR to apply ArcGIS data
analysis tools for regional water resources
maps;
• Enable MRMWR to address opportunities and
constraints for sustainable management of
water resources at local and regional level.
www.escwa.un.org 927 September 2013
23 Sep 2013

10. Palestine: MEnA
Tunisia: MoE
• Ministry of Environmental Affairs (MEnA), Palestine
Ministry of Environment (MoE), Tunisia
• Senior Exchange Visit on Environmental
Management to Tunisia, Apr 2013
– Areas
• Environmental governance
• Waste and hazardous waste management
• Sustainable rural development and eco-tourism
• Waste / wastewater treatment, links to aspects of sustainable
energy production
• Coastal zone management
– Field Visits
• Sustainable rural sanitation, Jougar, Zaghoan Governorate
• Ecopark at the Technology Center “Technopole”, Borj Cedria
• Sustainable tourism, Zaghouan
– Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both
Environmental Ministries
www.escwa.un.org 1027 September 2013

11. Water, Sustainable Development and Tourism
Examples from the Region
Integration of tourism facilities in
existing environmental settings
Green technologies to
increase water efficiency
Corporate reporting,
international standards
www.escwa.un.org 1127 September 2013

12. Morocco:
Eco Lodge - Green Detergent
Eco Lodge ‘Atlas Kasbah‘
Description
• Located in the high Atlas mountains,
20 min. from Agadir and the coastline
• Holder of several eco-label such as the
Green Key
Recipe of “The Green Detergent”
A local lemon, water, ecological detergent
(1/4), sodium bicarbonate and white vinegar
• Economical,
• Ease waste water treatment
www.escwa.un.org 1227 September 2013
Integrationoftourismfacilitiesin
existingenvironmentalsettings

13. UAE:
Desert Resort - Groundwater
Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa
Description
• Located in the Arabian Desert,
45 min. from Dubai,
• 11 international awards including
• Best Environmentally friendly Hotel 2001,
• Middle East's Responsible Tourism Award
2010
Peculiarity
• Ensure protection of one of the largest and
last existing groundwater reservoirs in UAE,
• Since opening in 1999 no reduction of
groundwater level and quality
www.escwa.un.org 1327 September 2013
Integrationoftourismfacilitiesin
existingenvironmentalsettings

14. Tunisia:
Hotels – Desal / Wastewater Plant
Al Maroudi Hotels
Description
• Leading hotel chain in Tunisia,
offering a total of 16,000 beds
Green Technology
• Desalination plant, capacity
600 m3/d to fulfill hotel needs,
• Independent water supply, quick
and easy installation, low energy
consumption (4 kWh/m3),
• Waste water treatment system for
sanitation and garden
www.escwa.un.org 1427 September 2013
Greentechnologiesto
increasewaterefficiency

15. UAE:
Hotels - Water Free Urinals
Dubai Crowne Plaza and InterContinental
Description
• Two luxurious hotels in Dubai plan to sign
contract with Falcon, producer of water free
urinals
Green Technology
Falcon Water Free Urinals:
• Use trap insert filled with sealant liquid
instead of water,
• Lighter-than-water sealant floats on top of
urine collected in U-bend, preventing odors
from being released,
• Save up to 170,000 l/yr water per urinal
www.escwa.un.org 1527 September 2013
Greentechnologiesto
increasewaterefficiency

16. Morocco:
Hotels – Kikuyu Grass
Kikuyu Grass
• Native to East Africa,
• Survives well at high
temperatures (38°C),
• Mostly used in semi-arid regions,
i.e. southern Mediterranean
countries (Morocco)
• Stays green in summers
• Consumes less water than any
other grass (watering per week:
once or twice)
• Perfectly fitted for saline / arid
environments
www.escwa.un.org 1627 September 2013
Greentechnologiesto
increasewaterefficiency

17. Tunisia:
Hotels – Water & Green Strategy
Accor Hotels
Description
• Major hotel chain with global Sustainable
Development strategy
Green pro-active strategy
• Equipments (flow restrictors, concealed press
flush valve, drip irrigation systems),
• Information dissemination at all levels,
• Awareness campaigns,
• Publication of reports,
• Transparency on its water footprint,
• Acknowledge that direct consumption count
for little, compared to food services: propose
balanced and smart menus.
www.escwa.un.org 1727 September 2013
Corporatereporting,
internationalstandards

18. UAE:
Hotels - Sust. Development Policy
The Radisson Blu Hotels
Description
• Only group in UAE to currently have
Green Key certification in all its hotels.
Green strategy
• Radisson Blu hotel in Sharjah received an
award for Best Waste Water Management
Project of the Year with its Grey Water
Recycling Project which saves
approximately 150,000 l/d of water,
• Accor group, Radisson hotels put water
frugality (lower water needs) at the center
of its green pro-active strategy
www.escwa.un.org 1827 September 2013
Corporatereporting,
internationalstandards

19. The Green Key
The Green Key
Description
• One of most respected Eco-labels in tourism
industry
www.escwa.un.org 19
Corporatereporting,
internationalstandards

20. The Green Key
International Baseline Requirements - Water
Imperative
• Total water consumption registered at least once a month.
• Newly purchased toilets to flush not more than 6 l/flush.
• Staff regularly check for dripping taps and leaky toilets.
• Each bathroom must have a waste bin.
• Water flow from at least 50% of showers must not exceed 9 l/min.
• Water flow from at least 50% of taps must not exceed 8 l/min.
• Urinals not allowed to use more flushing water than necessary.
• Cover / tunnel dishwashers not allowed more than 3,5 l/basket.
• Instructions for saving water & energy displayed near dishwasher.
• All wastewater must be treated, comply w. national / local
regulations.
• Hazardous liquid chemicals must be stored avoiding leaks.
www.escwa.un.org 2027 September 2013
Corporatereporting,
internationalstandards

21. The Green Key
International Baseline Requirements - Water
Guidelines
• Newly purchased dishwashers not allowed conventional domestic
appliances.
• Separate water meters installed in areas with high water
consumption.
• Water flow from taps and toilets in public not exceed 6 l/min.
• Waste water re-used (after treatment).
• Toilets flushed with rain water.
• Newly purchased toilets are dual flush type 3/6 l/flush.
• Purified tap water is offered to guests.
• Swimming pools covered to limit evaporation.
• Regular controls to ensure no leak in swimming pool.
www.escwa.un.org 2127 September 2013
Corporatereporting,
internationalstandards

22. Suggestions for Recommendations
• Governmental institutions:
• Capacity development and assistance to tourism sector through
national initiatives, e.g. GHD,
• Financial incentive systems, i.e. reduced interests for building green,
green taxes,
• Environmental friendly water tariffs.
• Tourism industry / private sector:
• Voluntary national standards,
• Competitions organised by national tourism board,
• Peer review: Internal self evaluation of tourism industry stakeholders.
• NGOs, civil society:
• National and local awareness raising campaigns,
• National awards, certification for “creative / best water practice”
www.escwa.un.org 2227 September 2013

23. Water and Sustainable Development
in the Tourism Industry:
Examples from the Region
Nizwa, Oman
24-25 September 2013
Ralf Klingbeil
Augustin Sabran