Last Thursday we were in Milan for a very special event organized by the Spanish Tourism Board in Italy, dedicated to sustainable tourism.
Why yes, Spain has been proclaimed the world’s most sustainable destination for 2024 by Lonely Planet!
Spain: World Leader in Sustainability
Spain has achieved extraordinary results:
- No. 1 in the world for biosphere reserves
- World No. 1 for Blue Flags
- No. 1 in Europe for biodiversity
- No. 1 in Europe for miles of high-speed rail
These are just some of the achievements that highlight Spain’s commitment to promoting tourism that respects the environment and local communities.
Common Challenges: The Sustainable Management of Tourist Flows.
During the event “Spain Talks: Caring for the Future,” we witnessed very interesting speeches from both Spanish and Italian entities From the speeches it emerged that the issues faced by tourist destinations are similar everywhere: finding ways to sustainably manage tourist flows, ensuring a good quality of life for residents despite the influx of visitors.
Sustainability as a Leading Thread
A recurring theme was the use and misuse of the word “sustainability.” The need for sustainable tourism management that crosses across any tourism model was discussed. Sustainability is not a static concept or confined to watertight compartments; it must permeate all aspects of tourism horizontally.
Awards and Recognition: Celebrating Sustainable Initiatives
To end on a high note, four awards were given out aimed at highlighting and celebrating initiatives that promote responsible growth in the industry.
Travel World Escape: Experience Award Winner
We are proud to announce that we have won theExperience Award. This prestigious award recognizes the best sustainable tourism product that celebrates itineraries, experiences and offerings designed to promote sustainable tourism in Spain. The award highlights the importance of offering authentic and environmentally friendly travel.
Travel World Escape has unveiled two new exclusive itineraries highlighting a diverse and unspoiled Spain, offering authentic travel experiences in close contact with local people. From Maestrazgo to a lesser-known Barcelona, seen in a new light, and all the way to the Pyrenees area, accessible by high-speed train.
These routes are a sustainable way to explore the beauty of the Spanish landscape while traveling in harmony with the environment.
Federica Martin, our product manager, said as she took the stage to accept the award, “We are an innovative tour operator in the Italian market, committed to promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism. Spain is a destination we have been studying for some time and it is giving us a lot of satisfaction. Keep up the good work, fellow Spaniards, because you have plenty of sustainability!”
If you missed them, check out our itineraries in Spain, thanks to which we won this fantastic award:
- Sustainable Spain: Catalonia and Pyrenees by train: 10-day trip from Barcelona to Zaragoza
- Nature and legends of Spain in the Maestrazgo region: 9-day trip from Madrid to Cantavieja