2024-02-05 09:03:55
Within the framework of the celebration of FITUR, HIC Summit, with the collaboration of the Government of the Balearic Islands, AETIB, Ibiza, GSTC and the Spanish Network of the UN Global Compact, the Think Tank Blue Islands “Blue and Circular Islands”to highlight the leadership of island destinations, in the transition towards a sustainable and regenerative tourism.
Think Tank Blue Islands has connected representatives from all over the world to offer a new vision of the tourism model and its contribution to local communities, and current factors such as overcrowding and climate change.
The vulnerability of island destinations to these impacts must be understood by the entire society, involving all individuals and public and private entities, in the conservation and protection of these unique and valuable environments in the world, which work, in a pioneering way in innovate in actions and new modalities of tourism promotion and development focused, especially, on the protection of natural resources, implement the circular economy, promote regenerative and sustainable tourism, and attract a higher quality and more conscious visitor.
Connected by the same challenge: The islands are especially vulnerable to tourist overcrowding and the impact of climate change
Representatives of destinations in Europe, America, Africa and Asia-Pacific have focused on the pioneering actions carried out in their territories in transversal areas such as the protection of natural heritage and biodiversity, promotion of regenerative tourism, social inclusion , energy self-sufficiency, accessibility, artificial intelligence applied to tourism and sustainable innovation. Seychelles, Galapagos Islands, Balearic Islands, Australia and El Hierro, participants in the Think Tank, are clear examples of struggle and effort for the conservation of their natural heritage since the last century.
In Seychelles, for example, the government has implemented the “Environmental Sustainability Tax for Tourism”, which came into force on August 1, 2023 and which aims to provide resources to the effort that, for many years, has been made to the conservation of the conservation of its biodiversity and identity.
“Seychelles, which is a country that lives on 50% of tourism, has been a pioneer since its independence, in the 70s, in promoting a new form of travel, and in the application of three tax levels, which allow a Direct part of the money left by tourists goes to conservation and sustainability. With a very limited and controlled number of beds, and with laws as basic as that no building can be taller than the trees that surround it, Seychelles made a commitment from the beginning to quality over quantity. A relevant issue is that unfortunately we receive tons of plastic from the ocean, which do not originate in Seychelles, but due to the tides they are received, therefore a large part of this rate is allocated to cleaning and filtering all these plastics. It must be remembered that Seychelles already has 50% of its land territory and 30% of its territorial waters specially protected, which in total are 1,500,000 km2, three times the size of the Iberian Peninsula.”. José Manuel Lapeña, Consul General of Seychelles, has declared.
In El Hierro (Canary Islands), for its part, among other milestones over the years, last summer they managed to cover all the energy needs of the island for 28 days using only wind and hydraulic energy. It is the only island in the world to achieve this, to date.
Davinia Suárez, Island Director of Tourism in El Hierro, has told how; “40 years ago, El Hierro decided to start its Sustainability Plan, with a main need to be energy self-sufficient. Gorona del Viento is a project that turns 10 years old in 2024. And, in this case, through hydrowind energy, through wind generators and water ponds, we work to achieve energy self-sufficiency and we have achieved the milestone of achieving it 100%. % for 28 consecutive days and by 60% annually. We have plans for waste management and to help the purchase of electric vehicles; we invest in solar panels; we do not receive or export energy from other territories; and, very especially, we want those who visit us, when they set foot on the island, to feel that awareness and commitment on the part of those who live there.”.
Territories such as the Galapagos Islands, among other actions, to minimize environmental impacthas applied a visitor controlwhich ensures that tourists enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of these islands without endangering their integrity.
Diego Andrade, Undersecretary of Promotion of the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of Ecuador, a partner country of FITUR 2024, has put on the table the prioritization of quality over quantity and added that: “The Galapagos Islands, declared a World Natural Heritage Site in 1978, and being a well-known destination worldwide, receive only 280,000 visitors a year, which is what, for example, Venice receives in one day. Since then, Ecuador has maintained a race to conserve natural heritage, endemic species and keep the experience of our visitors as pure as possible. Large cruise ship tourism is totally prohibited, the largest one that arrives to the islands has space for 98 people. Ecuador promoted the largest debt conversion by nature in the history of humanity. This allows 450 million dollars to be allocated to the Galapagos over the next few years. Ecuador constitutionally guarantees the Rights of Nature and among other initiatives together with Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica we are working to create an untouchable area, common to all, for marine species”.
Balearic Islands: national leader of change
A main role in the meeting during FUTUR has been played by the Balearic Islands where, to preserve the natural, historical and cultural wealth, a new tourism model has been promoted with the new tourism law, designed under a new, more integrative and social approach for the well-being of tourists, workers and residents.
“We are at almost 28 million visitors compared to more than a million population, and this is quite a challenge. We are recovering some traditional parameters from 30 or 40 years ago, which are part of our Intangible Heritage and which seemed to be obsolete or disused, and which we are once again putting into value around the world.” indicated Pere Joan Planas, Managing Director of the Tourism Strategy Agency of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
And, countries like Australia, the largest in Oceania and the sixth largest in the world, with more than 8,000 islands in its territory, is one of those that has the greatest push for environmental policies aligned with sustainability, especially generating protected natural areas for safeguard species threatened by human action.
“We have more than 12,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world. Tourists are increasingly looking for sustainable options. To provide data, according to a study that includes 20 countries, including Australia, 75% of travelers look for more sustainable travel options, and 80% are willing to pay more for these sustainable options. Special attention must be paid to creating tourist experiences in which the visitor is directly linked to the conservation of the environment and the natural resources of the place. And, control overcrowding in areas of special interest through effective policies”, Sophia McIntyre, Ambassador of Australia, added to close the event.
Innovation, tourism and regenerative culture
The ecological and circular transition of the tourism sector and the leadership of the islands in this transformation towards regenerative and sustainable tourism, takes on special prominence today, since it involves rethinking the way of understanding travel and the purpose of tourism as a development tool. territorial, and improving the quality of life of local communities.
The balance between economic and social development, the preservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and contributing to improving the quality of life and satisfaction of residents and visitors, are a main pillar in the mission of HIC Summit 2024 as the largest network for the innovation, tourism and regenerative culture.
HIC Summit is a leading forum and meeting place in the industry, which from October 16 to 18 will celebrate its sixth edition in Ibiza with the collaboration of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Ibiza, Spanish Network of the UN Global Compact , Spanish and Latin American Network of Accessible Tourism and Iivissa City Council, and with the mission of continuing to value science and innovation, giving a voice to talent and connecting companies, professionals and key destinations, so that the tourism model moves towards a formula that is more respectful of ecosystems and local communities, based on circularity, sustainability and regenerative culture.
Press contact: Carmen Ibáñez 666 153 497
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