Integrating Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Management in Tourism Destinations through Circular Economy Practices for Sustainable Growth

Abstract

The UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report reveals that 2.2 billion people still need access to safely managed drinking water while 3.5 billion lack access to adequately managed sanitation services and 2 billion lack basic hygienic services. Medical and environmental issues abound from this.  Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities considerably contribute to environmental as well as health damage by means of water pollution, soil and groundwater contamination, improper waste and sewage disposal, and the emergence of waterborne diseases. Circular economy concepts opens a new path for the optimization of water resources, sanitation, and hygiene standard use which helps to boost among accomplishing SDG 6. This study analyzes the influence of local community participation, sanitation and hygiene standards, tourism policies, and water management on the adoption of circular economy practices within tourism destinations. It further examines the mediating effect of circular economy practices in achieving sustainable growth effectively. Employing a mixed-method approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative techniques. A conceptual model is proposed and validated using structural equation model, highlighting the integration of community participation, Water resources, Sanitation and Hygiene management  and tourism policy to promote circular economy practices, ultimately fostering long-term sustainable growth  for community development in tourism sector.