Article by Rodrigo Pozo
Catalonia and the European Union align on the transition of the touristic model.
In the course of the last year, two documents have been published that demonstrate a clear commitment of the local and international tourism sector to a model transformation and a transition to become a sustainable, responsible and beneficial activity for all its stakeholders.
The first document is the National Commitment for Responsible Tourism, drawn up by the Generalitat de Catalunya in a participatory process with the relevant actors in the sector. The commitment stems from the need to rethink and reformulate Catalonia’s tourism model regarding the respect for the limits of nature, the changes in the habits of the residents and the socio-cultural factors that have affected the valuation of the destination, and the state of maturity of most local destinations.
The 67 commitments established in the document are divided into 4 axes or major frameworks and include the following topics:
1. Environmentally sustainable tourism: protection of natural resources, decarbonization and mobility, transition and energy efficiency, among others.
2. Socially fair tourism: accessibility, gender equality, fair employment, etc.
3. Territorially balanced tourism: Infrastructure and landscape, dependence on tourism activity, heritage and tourism, and so on.
4. Innovation-based tourism: Increase of the average stay, reduction of seasonality, digital and technological transformation, among other issuess.
The document covers a wide range of tourism issues that currently affect Catalonia and attaches great importance to the decarbonization of the activity, accessibility and the promotion of Catalonia’s vast tangible and intangible heritage as a strong touristic attraction.
The second document is the European Transition Pathway for Tourism, drafted by the European Commission through a participatory process with all member countries, Norway and the United Kingdom, and different stakeholders of the European tourism ecosystem. The document aims to define the pathway, actions and goals to be promoted at EU level to accelerate the double transition (ecological and digital) of tourism and increase its resilience; and it does so by establishing 27 themes or “topics” that are considered essential for this objective.
The 27 topics are divided into 3 main themes or frameworks:
1. Regulation and Public Governance.
2. Green and Digital Transformation.
3. Financing.
Key approaches include reducing carbon emissions, efficient resource management, supporting the local economy, promoting culturally sensitive tourism, building support networks and accessing funding sources.
These two documents demonstrate that administrations at all levels, and the different actors that make up this important sector, are increasingly committed to the transformation of tourism activity. Although these documents contribute, it is important that the commitments are translated into concrete actions that allow the achievement of the proposed objectives and that the local, European and global tourism model moves towards the longed-for sustainability.
Remember that sustainable tourism depends on the efforts, commitment and collaboration of all of us who are part of the sector, and at Pax# we offer consulting services focused on the sustainability of destinations and tourism companies. Our team of experts works closely with all types of organizations to implement sustainable practices and responsible development strategies that ensure respectful and beneficial tourism in the long term.
