Water security and voluntary environmental contributions in tourism in southwest Nicaragua

Water plays a critical role in the experience of the tourist and ultimately in the success and sustainability of tourism within specific geographies. This is particularly evident in coastal southwest Nicaragua where... [ view full abstract ]

Water plays a critical role in the experience of the tourist and ultimately in the success and sustainability of tourism within specific geographies. This is particularly evident in coastal southwest Nicaragua where significant growth, complex aquifer conditions, recent drought, and unsupported national water laws have contributed to water insecurity for tourism developers. In the absence of government oversight and support, developers have responded to change with a range of voluntary contributions to water management, each having various economic, environmental, and social consequences. This paper uses perspectives from game theory, adaption, and sustainability to shed light on the variety of paths towards water security taken by actors in the tourism sector. We use the findings of groundwater and meteorological monitoring, participant observation, and survey research to trace the link between a changing natural environment and water management responses by tourism developers. These responses, or voluntary contributions, are described in terms of their relative efficacy and cost to stakeholders. We argue that insufficient hydrological knowledge and the absence of government support contribute to a lack of economic will, and subsequently create a barrier to further contributions that would mitigate environmental degradation and marginalization of local populations. The results of this study have implication on policy, monitoring, and ultimately, the resiliency of the tourism industry in southwest Nicaragua