Generalitat de Catalunya

Catalunya Region

Catalonia is a region with 6.8 million inhabitants and 32,107 km2, generating a GDP about 157,124 M€. The territory, with 580 km of Mediterranean coast, also includes countryside and high mountains. Catalonia is promoting a global and integrated policy of development, according to sustainability principles under a wide scope. At a local level, 25% of Catalonian councils have already approved or are currently elaborating the Local Agenda 21. Tourism is a fundamental sector as it provides 11% of Catalonia's GDP (more than 13,000 M€ per year, and about 200,000 jobs). Catalonia hosts more than 25 million tourists per year (second residences not included), generating more than 165 million overnights. Almost 80% of the tourism activity is concentrated on the coast.

Partner's experience in the field of sustainable tourism

In Catalonia, the regional authority has recognised that tourism challenges such as the maturation of coastal tourist destinations demand new global policies facing current and future behavioural patterns and changes concerning the decision making process, supplier chains, IT/e-business, more and new destinations and outgoing markets. They also demand the development of a sustainable coastal and marine strategy which enhances synergies and achieves a local equilibrium concerning nature, culture, society and economic activities. In order to face challenges and to implement this new approach a Master Plan was approved in 2005. While "sun and beach" remains the most important motivation to visit Catalonia the tourism offer is changing into a more diverse and integrated model. . The most competitive and performing tourist coastal destinations are and will be those that are capable of adapting into a sustainable and responsible framework, including tourism within a global territorial and sector planning.