Tourism and environment are inter-linked. The environment of a tourist destination, its socio-cultural attributes and resources constitute the basic background for the evolution, growth and development of tourism in the destination area.
Increasing tourism activities in a destination often results in overuse and degradation of the natural environment and other resources of tourism, which will eventually lead to a decline in the growth of tourism and loss of tourism value for the destination. The goal of environmental sustainability is to preserve natural resources and to develop alternative sources of power while reducing pollution and harm to the environment
For monitoring purposes, environmental sustainability is measured through indicators on energy, water, wastewater and solid waste management, as well as mobility and air quality and noise.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
DAILY ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF TOURISTS VS. DAILY ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF RESIDENT POPULATION
ESTABLISHMENTS THAT OPTIMISE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
PERCENTAGE ENERGY CONSUMPTION PRODUCED BY RENEWABLE SOURCES VS. TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION
PERCENTAGE OF COMPANIES ADOPTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES
WATER MANAGEMENT
DAILY WATER CONSUMPTION BY TOURISTS, RELATIVE TO DAILY WATER CONSUMPTION BY THE RESIDENT POPULATION
ESTABLISHMENTS THAT OPTIMISE WATER CONSUMPTION
PERCENTAGE OF TOURIST COMPANIES USING RECYCLED WATER
PERCENTAGE OF COMPANIES PROMOTING EFFICIENT USE OF WATER IN THEIR OPERATIONS
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
URBAN WASTEWATER DISCHARGE COMPLIANCE RATE
PERCENTAGE OF COMPANIES THAT DEVELOP EFFICIENT WASTE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
PERCENTAGE OF SEWAGE TREATED PRIOR TO DISCHARGE
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SEPARATE WASTE
DAILY WASTE PRODUCTION BY TOURISTS, VS. DAILY WASTE PRODUCTION BY RESIDENT POPULATION (KG)
CO2 EMISSIONS
Percentage of tourists and tourists who use different means of transport to reach their destination
Percentage of tourists and tourists using public transport to reach their destination
Average distance (km) travelled by tourists and tourists between the place of residence and the tourist destination
Percentage of tourist companies involved in climate change mitigation activities – such as reducing CO2 emissions, low energy consumption systems, etc. – and “adaptation” responses and actions
MOBILITY
Movement of passengers on inland waterways
Number of passengers embarked and disembarked from cruise ships at the Port of Portimão
Number of passengers boarded and disembarked at Faro Airport
AIR QUALITY AND NOISE
Air quality index teste