Tourism water footprint: an empirical analysis of Mount Huangshan

A comprehensive analysis of the tourism water footprint (TWF) at Mount Huangshan reveals that tourists consume approximately 10.19 million cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to 3.39 m³ per tourist per day or 3387 liters. The study highlights that tourism sewage and food are the primary drivers of water consumption, with significant environmental spillover effects extending beyond Mount Huangshan to Huangshan City and even nationwide. Tourist flow and temperature show a highly significant positive correlation with TWF, indicating increased water demand during peak tourist seasons. This quantification provides critical insights for sustainable water resource management in tourism-driven regions.

Zhang, J.-H., Zhang, Y., Zhou, J., Liu, Z.-H., Zhang, H.-L., & Tian, Q. (2017). Tourism water footprint: an empirical analysis of Mount Huangshan. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 22(10), 1083–1098. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2017.1369134