The Spanish region of Andalucía has reformed its tourism strategy and created a framework for a sustainable future.
The General Plan for the Sustainable Tourism of Andalucía Meta 2027 incorporates sustainability goals set out by the United Nations (UN) and protocols to combat the threat of Covid-19.
Incorporating UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure the destination was developed within sustainability parameters was of “significant importance”, Andalucía said.
Under these sustainability goals, the region will move “towards a green economy”.
It added: “The objective is to reach a model of territorial cohesion dedicated to balancing tourist flows and preventing tourism concentration in specific areas.
“This includes combatting the effects of seasonal periods of high concentration and equally spreading tourism across coastal, inland and large cities of Andalucía, paying close attention to those less economically developed areas that possess resources with tourism potential.”
The region said it possessed “ideal conditions” to make best use of renewable energies such as solar and wind.
Attracting private investors, further public-private collaboration and protecting natural and cultural resources were outlined as targets in the plan.
The Spanish region described tourism as “a strategic and fundamental pillar” of the Andalusian economy and job creation.
Following the “devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”, the plan references the guidelines set out by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to return to pre-pandemic tourism levels.
Andalucía invited 300 entrepreneurs, businesses, public sector workers, academics and tourism board members to share views on “key problems” facing the industry before it drew up the plan, based on macroeconomic and tourist data.
Analysis shows the cultural and social environment, accommodation and food were the region’s most competitive factors.
Andalucía said there would be annual follow-ups and a mid-term evaluation in the final quarter of 2024 to ensure that the “desired results” were being achieved.