A research and updating project on the main scopes of tourism sustainability at a global level, to nurture the knowledge of destinations within the DTI Network promoted by the Tourism Secretary of Spain and SEGITTUR: new emerging trends, best practices at a national and international level, challenges and processes in the value chain, management instruments and tools, among others. 

The Challenge

This study was contracted by SEGITTUR, the Tourism Secretary of Spain, which commissioned us to investigate different aspects of the concept of sustainable tourism. In this way, this study would serve to expand the knowledge of mainly the different destinations that are members of the DTI Network, and offer them methodologies and tools for better management and good practice of sustainability. On the other hand, and within the framework of the post-pandemic stage, it would be necessary to update the information regarding new trends, methods, tools, challenges, good practices and reference testimonies, among other aspects.  

The Process

This project was carried out at the beginning of 2022, and the methodology used by Pax# for its development was to organize the work in small work teams, in order to be able to carry out and prepare the different expected results of the project in an agile way. Thus, each work team would be in charge of focusing its efforts on different subjects.

The organization of the work led to different outputs that would make up the main results of the study. This way, these outputs were:

  1. An introductory analytical report on the concept of sustainable tourism, its origin, history, new trends and international reference bibliography. 
  2. An analytical report on the sustainability chain in tourism, the involved actors, critical aspects of sustainability and possible improvements.
  3. An analytical report on sustainability management in tourism destinations, the necessary instruments for a sustainable tourism policy, and the different areas and phases in the sustainability management of a destination.
  4. An analytical report on the main challenges for sustainability in tourism destinations, both from the public and private sectors.
  5. A guide of national and international best practices as an inspirational support towards sustainability for the destinations of the DTI Network.
  6. Finally, a set of communicative and content dissemination elements in the areas of the work carried out. 

Although an important part of these reports and materials were based on secondary data research, the primary consultation of knowledge and information from international experts in the sector made a great contribution to the achievement of the objectives. In total, 35 experts, theoreticians, teachers and researchers in sustainability, with special emphasis on tourism, were consulted and contributed great value to the research.

35

In-depth experts interviews.

+300

Good practices analyzed.

+22

Outputs developed.

Conclusion

The collaboration and coordination of tasks between a multidisciplinary team of professionals in different areas of the sector was definitely a success factor for this project. It is also worth mentioning the fluid communication with the client at all times, which facilitated an iterative and continuous improvement process for possible corrections, comments and new contributions; and which provided flexibility and effectiveness to the development of the research in an agile period of 3 months.

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