Transformation of the tourism model towards sustainability

The investment aims to strengthen the environmental, socio-economic and territorial sustainability of tourism and targets tourist destinations, social partners and private operators in the sector.

Amongst other measures, this is done through the preparation and implementation of the Territorial Plans for Tourism Sustainability at Destinations.

Through a participatory and collaborative process, competent public administrations and the public and private actors of the tourism ecosystem in each destination identify responses to the challenges of tourism sustainability. The outcomes are plans with actions in the following areas:

• green transition,
• energy efficiency,
• digital transformation,
• competitiveness transformation,

The implementation of all the investments within the measure need to be completed by 30 June 2026. Investments are ongoing. In December 2021, EUR 615 million were distributed amongst regions for the implementation of these plans. In December 2022, 196 projects were approved for a total budget of EUR 720 million (175 will be managed by local entities and 21 by regions). By type of destination, 63 correspond to rural destinations, 37 to sun and beach tourist destinations, 22 to cities with a touristic identity, 16 to urban tourist destinations and the rest to rural coastal destinations (15), natural spaces (15), highly internationalised sun and beach destinations (5) and large urban destinations (2).

More information can be found at the links below:

• Extraordinary call 2021: BOE-A-2021-21764 Resolución de 23 de diciembre de 2021, de la Secretaría de Estado de Turismo, por la que se publica el Acuerdo de la Conferencia Sectorial de Turismo, por el que se fijan los criterios de distribución, así como el reparto resultante para las comunidades autónomas, del crédito destinado a la financiación de actuaciones de inversión por parte de entidades locales en el marco del Componente 14 Inversión 1 del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.

• Extraordinary call 2022: La Moncloa. 14/12/2022. El Gobierno aprueba 196 proyectos de sostenibilidad turística que van a movilizar 720 millones de euros de fondos europeos [Prensa/Actualidad/Industria, Comercio y Turismo]

Examples of investments at local level:

Creation of the Blue Path in Anoia (Barcelona) to boost sustainable tourism

The Blue Path Anoia is part of the Vías Azules Barcelona project, a route along the rivers of the Llobregat, Cardener and Anoia as they pass through the province of Barcelona.

The aim is to enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the most important river park in the province of Barcelona by creating and adapting transit routes for hiking and cycling around rivers. Tracks shall have a standard width of 3 metres and a gentle clearance, with sections adapted for wheelchairs and segregated for pedestrians and cyclists. They will also have active safety, signalling, information and environmental education systems focusing on the use of renewable energy.

Together with the restoration of natural habitats, the history of the Llobregat, Anoia and Cardener rivers will be restored to make them a valuable landscape, natural, cultural and heritage resource for promoting tourism and boosting the economy within the province.

During the period 2022-2025 (with an overall budget of EUR 6.2 million, of which EUR 4.5 million corresponds to Recovery and Resilience Facility funding and EUR 1.7 million to the Barcelona Provincial Council’s own funds), 19 kilometres of the road will be built on the stretch of the river Anoia through five municipalities in the district: Jorba, Santa Margarita de Montbui, Igualada, Vilanova del Camí and la Pobla de Claramunt.

Boosting Nordic ski resorts as sustainable tourism destinations

With a grant of EUR 1.68 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Tourism Sustainability Plan for Nordic ski destinations aims to boost sustainable tourism at Aransa, Guils, lles, Sant Joan de l’Erm, Tavascan, Tuixent la Vansa and Virós Vall Ferrera stations.

On the one hand, the project aims improve the energy efficiency of destinations, htrough the installation of solar panels, the installation of charging points for electric vehicles and the renovation of air-conditioning systems. In addition, it also includes the rehabilitation and isolation of station shelters, the installation of fences to facilitate the accumulation of snow, as well as improvements in water abstraction and waste management.

On the other hand, the plan also aims to promote the digitalisation of stations, through the improvement of online services, such as the purchase of forfaits and the renting of equipment, or the control of access to runways.

Consolidation of Segre Rialb (Lleida) as an inland nautical destination

One of the key measures within this project is the adaptation of the Ponts’ Water Canal and the creation of a Blue Way next to the Rialb dam and the Segre river to improve users’ experience. In addition, the creation of a family adventure park is envisaged. The Mirador de la Torre and the Mirador del Pou de Gel in Oliana will also be upgraded.

This project is considered a pilot that can serve as a reference for its application to other inland destinations with nautical resources, with the aim of contributing to the competitiveness and complementarity of tourism in the Lleida districts. The project will be financed with an investment of EUR 2.5 million, plus EUR 4 million of induced investment.

Fostering an inclusive and smart tourism development model in the Vall of Boí (Lleida)

The project received EUR 2 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and will promote the natural and gastronomic resources offered by the valley.

The estimated investment induced by the implementation of this plan would be an additional EUR 3.2 million. It includes, inter alia, the creation of trails, listeners and inclusive tourism experiences, as well as a platform for the promotion and marketing of accessible products.

The actions pivots on 4 programmatic axes: green transition, energy efficiency, digital transition and supply-side competitiveness.

Creation of a tourist circuit in Amposta (Tarragona) to enhance the river façade

Amposta City Council has received EUR 2 million for the creation of a tourist circuit. The project includes two main actions: the purchase of a fully electric green vessel worth EUR 745,000 and the rehabilitation of the Castell houses for EUR 887,000.

In addition, it also includes EUR 140,000 for the installation of recharging points for electric vehicles; nearly EUR 140,000 for the provision of cycling infrastructure in the city, EUR 245.000 for digital transition actions and EUR 43,000 for monitoring and evaluation of the project. With this support, the Municipality will purchase an electric watercraft, the management of which will then be put out to tender so that the various packages are offered by a tour operator. It will also rehabilitate the three houses of the Castell complex, already owned by the City Council, with a view to the installation of some restoration project.

Improvement of the beaches and bathing areas of the Forum in Barcelona and restoration of the Besòs bank to transform tourism activity

Between 2023 and 2025, 20 projects will be carried out in Barcelona that promote the territorial deconcentration of tourism activity, and the improvement of tourism mobility and innovation.

A total of EUR 40.8 million will be invested, which the city has obtained in the call for the 2022 Modernisation and Competitiveness Plan of the Tourism Sector that is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Actions are planned to renaturalise beaches, improve their accessibility and safety by adapting them to climate change. The project to improve the beaches and bath area of the Forum has a planned investment of 4 million euros.

Additionally, with an investment of EUR 4.6 million, we want to energise the Collserola natural park and the banks of the Besòs River through the environmental recovery and the historical restoration of different tourist attractions.

Eurovelo 8 cyclable network between the Amposta bridge and Freginals (Tarragona)

The second extraordinary call for Programme of Tourism Sustainability Plans in Destinations, financed by Recovery and Resilience Facility, has granted a total of EUR 3 million to the project. Of these EUR 3 million, the share of the Montsià district, a total of EUR 700,000, will have a direct impact on the municipality of Amposta. The project under this grant includes the completion of the ‘Eurovelo 8 section running from the Amposta bridge to Freginals on the old road.

The Eurovelos draw up a network of cycling tracks travelling all over Europe. In this case, Amposta is on the Eurovelo 8 route, which runs throughout the Mediterranean, from Greece to Cadiz.

Creation of innovative tourism experiences in Menorca

The project promotes, in a collaborative way, the development of an innovative, sustainable, inclusive and competitive tourism experience that highlights the relationship that has always existed between navigation and astronomy Sea Startlight, led by Nautic Ocean, will market these experiences.

Improving the sustainability of the Port of Maó

‘Port of Maó, Sustainable Port 2030’ arises in view of the need to give new impetus to Europe’s largest natural port. This project is built around four main strands of action in the areas of green and sustainable transition, energy efficiency, digital transition and competitiveness. It covers the management and planning of the non-port area, efficient lighting on the accesses and the main route, the improvement of the website and the completion of the construction of the Illa del Rei Hospital.