An Analysis of the Cost of Water Supply Linked to the Tourism Industry. An Application to the Case of the Island of Ibiza in Spain

Tourism on Ibiza, Spain, significantly strains local water resources, with desalination becoming essential to meet demand. The study finds that natural freshwater supplies are insufficient for both residents and tourists, leading to increased reliance on costly desalinated water. Water losses in distribution networks and seasonal tourism fluctuations further exacerbate the issue. Researchers analyzed water needs against available resources using a comparative approach, revealing that tourism's additional demand must be fully met through desalination, raising regional water management costs. This highlights the economic and environmental challenges of balancing tourism growth with sustainable water supply.

Pérez, D. M. G., Martín, J. M. M., Martínez, J. M. G., & Sáez-Fernández, F. J. (2020). An Analysis of the Cost of Water Supply Linked to the Tourism Industry. An Application to the Case of the Island of Ibiza in Spain. Water, 12(7), 2006. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12072006