Tourism Today - Waste Management and Prevention in the MENA Region

Tourism boosts the economies of countries in the MENA region, while also generating a significant amount of waste. The TouMaLi project sheds light on the challenges of tourism waste and presents sustainable solutions for reduction and recycling.

Tourism is a significant economic pillar in numerous MENA countries (Middle East and Northern Africa). It is a crucial driver for employment in the retail, hospitality and construction industries – an important factor for many countries like Tunisia struggling with high unemployment rates(41%).

The tourism sector in MENA countries has experienced steady growth in recent years. For example, in Morocco, the number of tourists increased from 3.72 million in 2021 to 10.87 million in 2022, marking a 192% rise. Similar trends can be observed in other countries of the region, such as Tunisia and Egypt.

Tourism Waste and Marine Pollution: Challenges and Progress

Despite its economic significance, the tourism industry generates a large amount of waste, particularly in the Mediterranean region, a hotspot for marine pollution. The Mediterranean countries have committed to measures against pollution in the Regional Plan for Marine Litter in the Mediterranean of the Barcelona Convention. International initiatives encourage signatory countries to uphold these commitments. Since 2022, the UN General Assembly has designated March 30th as International Waste Prevention Day to promote improved waste management and sustainable consumption and production patterns globally.

Despite these efforts, many North African countries still struggle to reduce marine pollution. This is attributed to inadequate waste management services, lack of financial resources, and unsustainable production and consumption habits.

The tourism sector significantly contributes to waste generation, with tourists producing up to twice as much waste per person per day as locals, on average. A considerable portion of this waste ends up on beaches and in the ocean, causing social, economic, and ecological problems. The ongoing urbanization of coastal areas and increasing tourism exacerbate these issues.