Sustainable water management: Practices, challenges and benefits: A case study of hospitality sector in Alula, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Sustainable management is becoming increasingly relevant globally, with resource management as a key element. Businesses faces critical issues related to water, making effective management essential for businesses like hospitality. This study examines sustainable water management (SWM) in Alula's hospitality sector, a new case that has not yet been thoroughly investigated. It combines three elements: 1- Practices applied in Alula's hospitality sector – Which practices are most used, and are they primarily low-cost and simple? 2- Challenges and barriers – Are costs, lack of awareness, resource limitations, technical difficulties, expert shortages, and guest behaviours the biggest barriers affecting practice choice? 3- Sustainable practises benefits and look if they have benefit in reduce operational cost and water consumption. It applied three assumptions. The study applied three assumptions and used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from questionnaires with qualitative insights from interviews with industry professionals. The findings conclude that while basic SWM practices are, like low flow showerhead, adopted in Alula's hospitality sector, significant barriers hinder the implementation of more advanced measures. Addressing these challenges through enhanced stakeholder engagement, increased awareness, and improved access to resources and expertise is crucial. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of SWM in emerging tourist destinations and provides sight for policymakers and industry stakeholders to promote SWM