Barcelona Region Commitment to Sustainable Tourism

The Barcelona Region Commitment to Sustainable Tourism is a certification programme aimed at companies, services, and public bodies in the province of Barcelona that seek to improve their sustainable tourism management and enhance their positioning within the tourism sector.

The programme recognises companies, services, and organisations that are committed to respectful management of the environment and culture, as well as the social and financial benefits of tourism activities in the counties of Barcelona. It bases its methodology on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Promoted since 2017 by the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Barcelona City Council, and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the programme is implemented in the region through the counties’ tourism management bodies. Currently, the programme includes 1,043 certified entities.

The programme has developed its own methodology to involve companies and services in global sustainability, based on capacity-building, collective workshops, and awareness-raising actions. All entities must develop an Improvement Plan that meets the requirements to maintain their Commitment membership. Destination workshops are organised by the programme to connect companies and organisations, fostering a network of knowledge, synergies, and cooperation.

In 2022, the province of Barcelona, along with the city of Barcelona, became the first destinations in the world to receive the Biosphere Platinum Certification from the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), an independent body promoted by UNESCO and recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).