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Circular Economy in the Tourism Sector

2024; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-031-56284-6_8

2523-3092

C. Repáraz, Juan C. Pérez,

Urban and Freight Transport Logistics

This chapter analyses the concept of circular economy as a key vector in the development of a sustainable tourism model. The tourism sector is identified in the different strategies and plans of circular economy at the international level as one of the priority sectors due to its high impact concerning the intensive use of different natural resources, as well as the great potential for the development of new solutions and initiatives in the field of sustainability. To this end, this chapter is broken down into different sections, starting with an introduction in which the relationship between concepts such as tourism and sustainability is defined, based on the conceptualization carried out by reference organizations such as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Once these preliminary concepts have been introduced, we proceed to the introduction of other more recent concepts such as the circular economy and its relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals, promulgated at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Delving into the concept of circular economy, the concept is developed in line with the definition provided by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which is one of the main reference organizations in the field of circular economy. Once the key concepts of the chapter have been framed, a detailed analysis of the application of the circular economy concept in the tourism sector is carried out. To this end, the section begins by identifying the main environmental aspects linked to the development of the tourism industry and its impacts on the natural resources necessary for the development of its activity. Once the aspects and impacts (linked to energy consumption, materials, waste management and water) have been identified, a proposal is made focused on providing potential initiatives to be undertaken to achieve the transition of the tourism sector, which is traditionally based on linear economic models, towards circular models. The chapter closes with a description of different practical examples related to the application of the circular economy to the tourism sector (hotels and other tourism services). Among the cases considered, there are initiatives related to energy and waste management, through the energetic valorization of waste, through the transformation of organic waste. Other projects related to sustainable mobility are also included, including examples of the use of zero-emission vehicles, as well as shared-use models.