The programme previously known as the Tourism Sustainability Commitment is ushering in a new phase as Barcelona Sustainable Destination, a name that reflects the project’s growing maturity, strengthens its connection to the destination brand and builds on nearly a decade of transformation in Barcelona’s tourism model.
Clearer and more closely linked to the destination, the new name aims to make the programme more recognisable to both residents and international visitors, raising the profile of participating businesses and organisations while highlighting a track record that has helped to transform tourism in Barcelona and forge a distinctive approach to tourism across the destination.
The new name is more than just a change in visual identity; it reflects the programme’s ongoing evolution, as it adapts its methodology and tools to a new regulatory and market environment in which sustainability is no longer an added value but a key factor in competitiveness, access to funding and public credibility.
The improvements that Barcelona Sustainable Destination is working towards for 2027 include simplified verification processes, improved traceability of indicators, greater public recognition for participating organisations and alignment with European Directive 825/2024 on greenwashing, which strengthens the rigour and transparency of sustainability policies.
Jointly promoted by Barcelona Provincial Council and Barcelona City Council, in partnership with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Barcelona Tourism, since 2017 the programme has become a key tool supporting businesses and public administrations as they transition towards management models that are more responsible in terms of environmental impact, culture, working conditions, gender equity and socio-economic impact.
With more than 1,200 tourism stakeholders participating across the province, the initiative has helped to build a strong destination-wide network through the involvement of county-level tourism bodies and a shared governance model that has gained European recognition.
In this regard, the programme received a European Public Sector Award (EPSA) from the European Institute of Public Administration, with Special Recognition for its public–private cooperation model and its success in establishing decentralised and sustainable tourism governance. This recognition further strengthens the international profile of a model that has already positioned Barcelona as one of Europe’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.
With this new phase, Barcelona Sustainable Destination is taking yet another step forward in promoting a more balanced and responsible form of tourism aligned with the global challenges of sustainable development.
