What is it?
The Barcelona Region Biosphere Commitment to Sustainable Tourism is a programme aimed at companies, services and public bodies in the counties of the province of Barcelona that wish to improve their sustainable tourism management and their positioning as a tourist destination.
The aim of the project is to recognise companies, services and organisations that are committed to respectful management of the environment, culture as well as the social and financial return of the counties of Barcelona. It does so by basing its methodology on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
The programme is promoted by Barcelona Provincial Council and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and is implemented in the territory through the counties tourism management bodies.
In 2017, Barcelona Provincial Council with the province’s three tourism brands – Barcelona Coast, Barcelona Landscapes and Barcelona Pyrenees – obtained the Biosphere Certification, a pioneering certification based on the 17 SDGs, awarded by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) and recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
In 2018, for its willingness to promote, from the actual institutions, a respectful tourism committed to the environment, it received the Biosphere Gold Certification and, in 2022, in a further step, the Destination Barcelona, i.e. province and city, becomes the first destination in the world to receive the Biosphere Platinum Certification for the promotion and support to companies, services and public bodies of the destination that finally obtain the Biosphere Sustainable certification.
Benefits of incorporating and communicating sustainable initiatives:
- Position yourself in an emerging market
- Improve credibility and reputation
- Attract new sustainably conscious customers
- Differentiate yourself and stand out from your competitors
- Generate added value to your products and services
- Establish new relationships with other sustainable organisations
- Consolidate your organisation in the long term
- Contribute to promoting a more sustainable tourism sector committed to the environment
How to achieve this?
Commit to sustainability
Certification is based on a voluntary and independent commitment, based on the principles of sustainability and continuous improvement.
Fill in the form
We will contact you and send you the necessary documents to start the procedures.
We train and advise you
We support you throughout the process of joining the Commitment with continuing education and advice. We suggest improvements for your company in terms of sustainability.
Draw up your Annual Action Plan
We help you develop your Annual Action Plan to incorporate and implement the necessary measures for your organisation.
Congratulations!
You already have the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle certification
Participate in Destination Workshops
We will put you in contact with other organisations in the industry to generate a network of knowledge, synergies and cooperation to improve the destination’s competitiveness.
Join the challenge
of sustainable tourism
Your professional contact details will be treated confidentially by Barcelona Provincial Council and exclusively for the purpose of managing your membership of the Barcelona Region Biosphere Commitment to Sustainable Tourism and, should you accept it, to receive related news and updates by e-mail.
Likewise, in compliance with the Information Society Services Law 34/2002 of 11 July, we inform you that, by filling in the e-mail or telephone field, you authorise us to use these means to send you communications directly related to the aforementioned purpose.