The Philippines is grappling with increasing pressure on its water and energy resources due to a surge in tourist arrivals.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, total water consumption by the tourism sector reached 202.2 million cubic meters in 2023, more than double the 93.1 million cubic meters consumed in 2022.
Accommodation facilities, including hotels and resorts, were the largest consumers, with water usage reaching 81.24 million cubic meters. This sharp increase underscores the growing demand for resources driven by the tourism industry’s expansion.
Energy consumption in the sector mirrored this trend, doubling to 6,135.28 kilotons in 2023 from 2,957.64 kilotons the previous year. Transport services alone accounted for 37 percent of the tourism sector’s energy consumption, totaling 2,265.79 kilotons.
Consequently, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use soared to 8,034.20 gigagrams of CO2 in 2023, up from 3,922.39 gigagrams in 2022. Notably, two-thirds of these emissions originated from transport services, which saw an increase to 5,403.90 gigagrams.
The PSA has initiated data collection on tourism sustainability in 2021 to better understand the industry’s impact and to seek a balance among economic, environmental, and social factors in tourism development.
The surge in foreign tourist arrivals, which jumped to 5.45 million in 2023 from just 2.65 million in 2022, highlights the growing importance of tourism to the Philippine economy. However, the significant strain on vital resources calls for urgent measures to ensure sustainable tourism practices moving forward.
