TRAJECTORY
Follow the path of the Responsible Tourism Institute step by stepIf you want to know more about each of our steps towards the development of a more responsible tourism model, this is your space. Walk with us the path we started in 1995 and that has led us to reach great milestones of which we are very proud.
We invite you to be part of the future of this project. Because each incorporation adds up and because this change has only just begun.
Whether you manage a tourist destination or represent a company in the sector, or if you are an influencer of tourism world, or simply a committed traveler, your work is important and very valuable. Get in touch with us and get to know us.
The Responsible Tourism Institute
On Saturday, April 7, the first National Meeting of the Responsible Traveler was held in León, at the Sierra Pambley House Museum. It was organized and promoted by the Responsible Tourism Institute, the Provincial Council of León and the InterMundial Foundation. The city of León hosted hundreds of bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, writers and travel journalists for two days with a common goal "to generate a constructive debate on responsible tourism". Through the hashtag #Viajerosresponsables they shared images, moments and messages about the meeting in their different social networks.
In process. Certification of León as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Provincial Council of León. A process of identification of sustainable tourism products is also being carried out.
In process. Certification of Vilafranca del Penedès as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Town Hall of Vilafranca del Penedès.
Managed in a sustainable way, inland tourism can be a considerable force for the enhancement and safeguarding of the natural and cultural heritage, material and immaterial, as well as a vector for the promotion of sustainable local development. But the tourism sector is increasingly aware of the problems of conserving the surrounding heritage, and of its role as a fundamental element of the offer. Therefore, the tourist activity must consider the induced effects on the cultural and natural heritage, actively sharing the responsibility for its preservation, and forging alliances for a more responsible and conscious tourism of the value of our common heritage.
The tourism industry is called in the coming years to become one of the fundamental engines and priority field of application of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. In coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals, one of the facets that will mark the near future of the industry's commitment will be to increase the capacities to bring benefits to the communities and sustainable local development within the framework of a just economy.
Destinations have the responsibility to promote formulas that enable sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; and that, at the same time, contribute to full and productive employment and decent work for all (Goal 8). Particular emphasis is now placed on the access to decent work opportunities in the tourism sector, especially for young people and women, who can benefit from tourism through improved training and professional development. This also involves taking the necessary measures to maximize the economic benefits of tourism for the host community and to create strong links with the local economy of destination and other economic activities in the environment.
Within the framework of the New Urban Agenda Sustainable Development of urban destinations should be sought, understood as an integrative process that includes public authorities of the destination, citizenship, their companies and services, and the mechanisms for promoting destination and communication with tourists. Moving towards the development of sustainable urban destinations is a process of shared responsibility. Actors in sustainable tourism cities share the responsibility of maintaining the destination as a vibrant and prosperous place to live and visit. It is therefore essential to ensure that tourism destination governance includes all stakeholders, especially at local level, and that the roles and responsibilities of each are clearly defined.
In process. Certification of Yuriria, Mexico, as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Municipality of Yuriria and the Secretary of Tourism of Guanajuato.
The event was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism, the Regional Entity of Tourism Alentejo | Ribatejo, the Responsible Tourism Institute, the President of the Regional Development Agency of Alentejo, Tourism of Portugal, the Portuguese Tourism Confederation of the Évora City Council, as well as national and international speakers. Several cases of BIOSPHERE certification were presented, from destinations, operators and hosting units
Certification of Vitoria-Gasteiz as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the City council of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Certification of Sitges as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the City Council of Sitges.
Certification of Euskadi - Basque Country and the 6 destinations of which it is composed as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Basque Tourism Agency (Basquetour). Euskadi became the second integral region to receive Biosphere certification.
Certification of Arona as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the City of Arona. Arona became the first destination of the south of Tenerife in receiving the certification.
Held in Vitoria - Gasteiz, European Green Capital (2012). This top-level meeting, framed as an initiative within COP21 (United Nations Climate Change Conference), is under the auspices of UNESCO, the MaB (Man and Biosphere) Program, the World Heritage Center, the The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the European Commission and the United Nations Sustainable Development Division. The International Council of Monuments and Historic-Artistic Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), together with institutions that investigate ecological efficiency, innovation, climate change, education and training in sustainable development attended this event.
Certification of Catalonia as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Catalan Tourism Agency (CAT). Catalonia became the first integral destination in receiving the Biosphere certification.
Certification of the Island of Lanzarote as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the Island Council of Lanzarote. Lanzarote became the first destination to receive the certification with the approval by the GSTC.
First Mexican hotel chain to receive this certification. In November 2012, the agreement between City Express and RTI Hotels was signed for a corporate certification and 100% of business units. At the moment there are 70 hotels certified
Certification of Escorca as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, Biosphere Destination. Project in collaboration with the City of Escorca. Escorca became the first destination of the Balearic Islands in receiving the certification.
The RTI participated in the creation of the event and several talks. The establishment of the GSTC Destination Community was aimed at creating a space where the interaction between certifications recognized and approved by the GSTC, such as Biosphere Responsible Tourism and between committed destinations, would further strengthen the Global Criteria and, therefore, the application of environmental, social, cultural and economic principles in the core of this Global Criteria.
Project in collaboration with the General Council of Valle d'Aran.
Certification of the City of Gijon "BIOSPHERE WORLD URBAN DESTINATION". Project in collaboration with Tourism of Gijón.
Development of the BIOSPHERE Certification in the Aysén region, based on the collaboration agreement signed in 2010. The project is part of the line of "Transfer, dissemination and implementation of good environmental and tourism practices to companies of the Sustainable Tourism Network Of the Region of Aysén ", co-financed by INNOVA CHILE of CORFO and the program AL-INVEST IV, co-financed by the European Commission.
Participation in the elaboration of the Action Plan, Tourist Diagnosis, Strategic Analysis, Follow-up Indicators, and the realization of several workshops on tourism innovation, marketing, positioning, etc.
Seminars that took place in Arica and Santiago de Chile, organized by Fundación Empresarial EuroChile. The ITR collaborated in organizing and holding the seminars and participated in the opening conference of the first seminar "Responsible Tourism, a way of development for Arica and Parinacota". The RTI also participated in the Central Conference of the Seminar.
Project in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council. Obtaining this certification made Barcelona the first destination in the world to obtain such recognition.
Cooperation project between the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Valparaiso and the Responsible Tourism Institute. Certification of 31 new establishments belonging to the commune of Olmué, Valparaiso, within the framework of the Program of Diffusion and Technological Transfer for the commercialization of tourist products of special interests of the territory of Olmué.
Project in collaboration with the Management of the La Palma Biosphere Reserve. Analysis of existing tourist infrastructures. Diagnosis of the tourist situation and measures for the maximization of it. Management and supervision of the creation of a tourism product based on the offer and landscape diversity of the Island of La Palma.
Project in collaboration with the Management of the La Palma Biosphere Reserve. A detailed study of the astronomical observation resources of the Island was carried out. Later, a tourism product was developed based on the offer of observation of the night sky of La Palma, oriented to improve the tourist competitiveness of the Island at a national and international level through the use of the sky as a differentiating claim and offer.
Certification of SOL MELIÁ as BIOSPHERE HOTEL COMPANY, which implied the evaluation of the company's global sustainability strategy and the visit to several hotels at international level to verify the materialization of the strategy.
Development of the sustainability diagnosis of the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), covering the following areas: Climate change and air quality, Natural and urban environment, Cultural diversity and heritage, Society and Development.
Participation in the International Mediterranean Ecotourism Conference promoted by ECOTRANS, ACTA and ARPA Sicily
Creation and development of La Palma - Sustainable Tourism Destination, through the implementation and certification of RTS standards "Biosphere Destination" on the island of La Palma. Accession of the main tourist establishments of La Palma to the brand BIOSPHERE
In the 7 municipalities that make up the Association of Municipalities of the Ribera del Cabriel, a Plan for Tourist Dynamization and a MACT (Model of Approach to Tourism Quality) were developed, which included training, product identification and marketing
Years 2006-2007. Development of the process for the Proclamation by UNESCO of the figure and legacy of Don Quixote as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Development of international meetings in relevant institutions for the dissemination and support of the legacy of Don Quijote as a World Intangible Heritage.
Years 2006/2007. Constitution of the SAGITAL Development Group, which created the Project "Adaptation Services for the Management of Tourism and Fishing Initiatives in Coastal Areas". It aimed to support the adaptability of companies and workers in the fishing sector and related activities to fishing and tourism-fishing diversification activities in the coastal areas affected by the crisis in the sector.
Participation in this forum held in Isla de Pascua, Chile. It was promoted by the Easter Island Chamber of Tourism, in collaboration with CORFO and the Tarai Henua Local Development program.
The Responsible Tourism Institute was granted the "Sport and Tourism Global Awards" in its second edition held in Palma de Mallorca in the category of non-profit organizations, focused on tourism and the environment. It recognized the continuous awareness and dissemination of the environmental values in the international tourism industry.
Organization with UNESCO of the Congress "MERCOSUR: Towards Responsible and Sustainable Tourism", held in Montevideo, Uruguay. The objective of this meeting was to design responsible and sustainable tourism policies in MERCOSUR countries. To this end, the event focused on themes such as sustainable tourism, environmental certifications, biosphere reserves andthe Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program.
Obtainment of the International Award of the Environment awarded by the TUI Tour Operator in recognition of the work carried out by the RTIin the field of tourism sustainability
In 2005, the Responsible Tourism Institute was awarded the Green Wood Award for Environmental Responsibility, granted by the Promotion of Sociocultural Activities (APAS) in collaboration with the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.
Organization of the Plenary Session and conclusions of the World Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and organized by UNWTO, UNESCO and the Government of Brazil.
Creation of a Web Portal for "Biosphere" destinations and establishments, easily accessible and widely distributed.
Advanced Seminar and Workshop on "Integrated Strategic Planning of Sustainable Tourist Destinations"
Advanced Seminar and Workshop on "Integrated Strategic Planning of Sustainable Tourist Destinations" within the framework of the Azahar Program with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) and the General Secretary of Tourism.
Collaboration in the organization of the Universal Forum, meeting on tourism that brought together in Barcelona the main actors that make up the sector. More than a thousand participants, with the assistance of 100 lecturers in different sessions of the symposiums; where more than 68 papers were debated around the different realities affecting cultural diversity, tourism and sustainable development. In parallel, several workshops were held, and 70 communications and experiences were presented.
Held at the Central Hispanic Auditorium in Madrid, Spain. The RTI, in collaboration with the Santander Central Hispano Foundation, organized this event with the objective of analyzing the interrelations between tourism and natural heritage, paying particular attention to its implications for the conservation of Biodiversity in the world. This issue was addressed in a generic way, but with a significant reference to tourist destinations and in situ conservation of natural heritage and biological wealth, with special attention to the recommendations of the World Parks Congress held in Durban in September 2003.
Organization of a seminar at the World Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development in Salvador Bahia, Brazil.
Creation of the Certification "Biosphere Destination", "Biosphere Restaurant", "Biosphere Mobility", "Biosphere Discover", "Biosphere Park" and "Biosphere House". Expansion of the Responsible Tourism System including the evaluation of sustainable destinations, as well as a specific section dedicated to research, training and specialized education applied to the management of the tourism production process.
Held in the Hall of Mosaics of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Córdoba, Spain), it was organized by the RTIin collaboration with the Municipality of Cordoba and the Tourism Excellence Plan of Cordoba. This workshop was intended to assert the enormous potential of tourism as a way of interrelation and understanding among people, cultures, races and languages. Tourism, understood as a powerful instrument for the exchange of human flows, is one of the natural allies of peace, since tourism and peace are inseparable and closely related to the point that it cannot be understanded the one without the other
The workshop took place at the Hotel Botánico (Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife) and was organized by the RTI and the Loro Parque Foundation. The main objective was to specify the aspects to be addressed in the Panel on Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism at the International Conference on Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development to be held in Barcelona in July 2004. These included: Promotion of sustainable good practices based on the "Animal Embassy" standard of quality and environmental responsibility carried out by the RTI and Loro Parque; stablishing the foundations of the strategy for the defense of biodiversity from zoos; and contributing to the normalization of Good sustainability practices in zoos, among others.
It took place in Michoacán (Zamora, Mexico). It was a Preforum workshop held in the "Ibero-American Congress of Cultural Heritage, Development and Tourism" and organized by the RTI, the National Coordination of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of CONACULTA and the Colegio de Michoacán. The main goalwas to develop the Workshop with international and Ibero-American experts, analyzing the proposed topics and adding the Ibero-American perspective.
Meeting held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. It focused on the presentation of the Barcelona Forum 2004 by Mrs. Mireia Belil, Director and on the International Dialogue "Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development" by Dr. Tomás Azcárate, President of the Responsible Tourism Institute; Agency responsible for the Secretariat Technique of Dialogue. The main objective was to publicize the structuring of the Dialogue in the thematic areas on which this event was to take place (Tourist Destinations, Tourism Industry Sustainability, Cultural Diversity, Urban and Rural Heritage, Biodiversity, Promotion of Peace and Cooperation, New technologies and the Knowledge society)
Years 2002-2003. Generalization in the Implementation and Certification of the Biosphere Hotel and Golf standards. Joint implementation in some cases with ISO 14001 and EMAS.
Years 2000-2003. Participation in the Renewable Energy Promotion Campaigns in the Framework of Cooperation with DG-TREN as European Commission partnerships in the Take-Off Campaign.
Project financed by the European Commission (Directorate General for Energy and Transport) with the aim of establishing cooperation for the promotion of renewable energy in the islands. The conference included the creation of an International Forum for RES, Islands and Sustainable Tourism and concluded with the holding of the Saint Lucia World Conference.
The Responsible Tourism Institute became in 2002 Partner of the European Union in the Energy Sector
Cooperation between the Responsible Tourism Institute and the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands to jointly undertake a project for the application and enhancement of the use of advanced telecommunications services, within the framework of the ARTE / SME II program of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Workshop on Rural Tourism in Biosphere Reserves, which took place on the island of La Palma
Between 26 and 28 September 2001 a Workshop on Management of Sustainable Tourism for Hotel Establishments was held in Yaiza (Lanzarote).
Development of the OCITURES 2001 project, which created the "Standard Responsible Golf System", the standardization of good practices for the management of golf courses, the "Standard Animal Embassy" and the standardization of good practices for exhibition theme parks Ex situ animal (within the framework of cooperation with UNESCO for the conservation of biodiversity). In the latter participated the San Diego Zoo (USA), the Loro Park Foundation (Spain), the New York Zoo (USA) and the International Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums.
International Conference Sustainable Hotels for Sustainable Destinations in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
Conference organized by the ITR and the City Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, with the collaboration of UNESCO, OMT, ITC, Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Government of the Canary Islands and the General Secretary of Tourism. It was aimed at government officials and tourist companies, among others, to promote cooperation and exchange of experiences of sustainable projects in the hotel sector.
The meeting was organized by UNESCO and the Responsible Tourism Institute. Held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, it was aimed at tour operators, and was attended by the most important at an international level. During the same, the problems related to sustainability within the tourism sector were analyzed and the Responsible Tourism System was presented as a mechanism for the improvement and promotion of Tourism Sustainability.
Obtaining the European Environment Award for the "Responsible Tourism System"
Consolidation of the certifications "Biosphere Hotels" with the gradual incorporation of establishments.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO as a collaborating agency for the development of sustainable tourism in all its different aspects.
In 1998, with the collaboration of the State Secretariat of Tourism of Spain, a project was carried out to analyze 30 tourism establishments and the management systems they carried out. After this project the Responsible Tourism System was launched, on the basis of the data collected and the principles of sustainable tourism (Sustainable Tourism Charter)
In 1997 the Responsible Tourism Institute was established with the support of UNESCO.
After the World Conference on Sustainable Tourism was held on 27 and 28 April 1995 in Lanzarote, the creation of the Responsible Tourism Institute began.