Barcelona recently hosted the 18th sustainable tourism partnership meeting, focusing on rethinking tourism to create more liveable cities. The event brought together stakeholders from across Europe to address the challenges of unmanaged tourism and explore solutions rooted in governance, collaboration, and social economy principles.

Discussions emphasised the importance of integrating tourism with environmental management, economic resilience, and local identity. Participants highlighted the need for holistic approaches that consider the social economy’s role in fostering sustainable urban tourism. Strategies to enhance stakeholder engagement included involving local businesses, civil society, and communities in decision-making processes to ensure tourism benefits are equitably distributed.

The public debate at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona underscored the urgency of balancing tourism with residents’ quality of life. Topics included the risks of cities becoming over-commercialised and the necessity of preserving local culture and social fabric. The meeting concluded with a call to action for cities to adopt inclusive and sustainable tourism models that align with social economy values, promoting both economic vitality and community well-being.

More details on the discussions and key takeaways can be found on the event’s official page.