Auren, a professional services firm that provides audit, legal advice, consulting and corporate services, has announced its first Sustainable Tourism Observatory. The initiative, implemented by Auren’s tourism consulting division, is a collaboration with the Andalusian Institute of Tourism Research and Innovation and the Spanish Network of Tourism Graduate Programs.
This report examines 77 Spanish municipalities recognized as tourist destinations, spanning rural areas, seaside towns and urban hinterlands, in order to measure variables related to sustainability transition and sustainable management. I investigated. Key focus areas include fostering innovation and the use of technology in tourism, environmental management and conservation of fragile ecosystems, managing tourist flows and impacts, and public-private cooperation models to identify and promote best practices. It will be.
A key finding of the report is that 78% of destinations identify managing tourist flow as their main challenge, with tourism seasonality and crowding being the top concerns. “The challenge lies in how to distribute the tourist load,” said Juan Antonio López, Oren’s consultant partner and co-director of the Observatory. He believes that destinations can offer a more dynamic tourism portfolio, reduce their dependence on star attractions and more diversify their offerings to suit different moments and segments, whether stable, temporary or temporary. emphasized the need.
The report also highlights the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and rising temperatures, as the second biggest challenge facing tourism destinations.
In terms of using technology for tourism management and promotion, 65% of cities have adopted some kind of technological tool, with mobile applications tailored to tourists being the most popular, reflecting the trend towards personalization and mobility of the tourism experience. Additionally, 16% of destinations using technology have implemented artificial intelligence.
Sustainable mobility is also a key focus, with 43% of destinations promoting cycling as a key action. This was followed by 39% introducing park and ride facilities to minimize impact on sensitive areas. Of the 77 destinations surveyed, 35% have already launched sustainable urban mobility plans. However, the report found that only 8% of destinations have an accessible tourism plan, such as an app that provides routes for visually impaired people, and identifies key areas for improvement in tourism accessibility. I am.
