Executive Summary
On Call International highlights water scarcity as an emerging travel risk that is reshaping how organizations plan and manage business travel. As freshwater resources become increasingly strained in destinations around the world, travelers and travel programs must consider both operational risks and the broader impact of travel in local communities.
Key takeaways
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- Water shortages are affecting more travel destinations worldwide.
- Tourism can place significant strain on local water resources.
- Water stress can increase health, operational, and community risk.
- Organizations should include water risks in travel planning and briefings.Travelers can help by conserving water and reducing plastic waste.
Water scarcity is emerging as one of the most significant and least recognized constraints on global travel. Beyond the familiar advice to avoid tap water or ice in certain destinations, many regions are facing structural pressures on the availability, safety, and management of fresh water supplies. Coastal communities, canal cities, arid landscapes, and island nations are contending with limited fresh water supplies and fragile waste management systems that were not designed to support today’s tourism and business travel demands.
Tourism and business travel can intensify these vulnerabilities. A UN report found that hotel water use per guest in most countries far exceeds that of the local population. For example, a study of luxury wildlife lodges across Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa found that the average water consumption per guest was more than 2,000 liters (500 gallons) per night. What may feel like the normal comforts of travel – long showers, multiple swimming pools and manicured golf courses – draw on water resources that are already strained.
Although tourism brings economic benefits to local communities, it can also add significant stress in places that lack robust infrastructure to provide clean water and sanitation, disproportionately affecting vulnerable local populations. Water scarcity is no longer limited to developing regions. Water crises are emerging in destinations such as Bali, Ibiza, Las Vegas, and Goa, with London, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo all predicted to face acute shortages in the coming years.
For organizations and their travelers, this expands the map of locations where water-related disruptions, health risks, and community tensions must now be factored into trip planning.
Practical Steps to Support Water Sustainability
To help reduce the impact and support local communities, organizations should prioritize accommodations that reprocess water, limit unnecessary laundry, compost food waste, and minimize single use plastics. They can also steer travel programs towards destinations or properties that invest in desalination systems or provide safe, reusable alternatives to bottled water.
Clear protocols that support sustainable travel best practices can also promote lower-impact travel behavior across the organization. Encouraging the use of reusable bottles, portable filtration systems such as LifeStraw or GRAYL GeoPress, and using durable cutlery or reusable shopping bags help reduce plastic consumption. This is especially important in island nations and remote regions where recycling can be costly and limited. Sharing this guidance with travelers broadens awareness and strengthens resilience across the organization’s travel program.
While global water pressures will not be resolved quickly, organizations can play a meaningful role by integrating water resource awareness into risk briefings, and traveler education.
Looking ahead to 2026, water scarcity will no longer be a peripheral concern but a key risk factor shaping where and how organizations can operate. As these pressures intensify, destinations that once seemed low-risk are becoming more vulnerable to disruptions – from water rationing and service outages to heightened competition for basic resources. Recognizing water availability as a core element of travel planning is now essential. The challenge is not only managing the risks traveling employees face but also understanding how that travel affects local communities and how the impact can be reduced.
About On Call International
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services, protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit https://www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.
