On 29 October 2024, URBACT, a European programme co-financed by the European Union to promote sustainable urban development, published a good practice showcasing solutions implemented by Baião, Portugal, to advance sustainable tourism. Baião, located in northern Portugal, has become the first Portuguese municipality to achieve EarthCheck certification, demonstrating its dedication to high-quality, responsible tourism.

Key initiatives that contributed to this achievement include the development and implementation of a Sustainability Policy, the formation of a "Green Team" to oversee its execution, and a benchmarking assessment of the destination's performance against the 12 key areas of EarthCheck standards, among other initiatives.

For more details on the practice, including the solutions implemented and measurable results, please follow the attached link.

#Destination management #Sustainable tourism #Responsible travel #Tourism development #Community engagement