Spain is making significant strides in promoting sustainable tourism to ensure year-round visitation and highlight lesser-known areas. New cycling paths, electric buses and high-speed train routes are making eco-friendly travel across the country more accessible, and creative hotel initiatives are revitalising rural regions, contributing to Spain's sustainable tourism movement.

Turespana's Tourism Counsellor for South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Marta Fernandez Martin, says Spain's commitment to sustainable tourism not only enhances the visitor experience but also ensures the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

“We are absolutely committed to leading the way in sustainable tourism,' said Fernandez Martin. “Spain is dedicated and making great progress to making eco-friendly travel both accessible and enjoyable, reflecting our country's deep respect for the environment and our duty to protect it."

She continued, “As the country's national tourism board, we're proactively promoting shoulder-season and off-season travel options to Australian and New Zealand travellers, as well as encouraging greater regional dispersal and off-the-beaten-path discoveries. This approach is designed not only to help manage tourism's impact on the environment and local communities within Spain, but also to spread the economic benefit of tourism further.”

European Green Capital for 2024: Valencia

Valencia has been honoured as the European Green Capital for 2024, an accolade awarded by the European Commission to cities with over 100,000 residents that demonstrate a commitment to reducing environmental impact and enhancing quality of life. Valencia's recognition stems from its sustainable urban development projects and its ambitious goal to become a climate-neutral and smart city by 2030.

Valencia's achievements include the preservation and expansion of green spaces such as Albufera Natural Park and Turia Gardens, sustainable mobility initiatives, excellent urban waste management, and the revitalisation of public spaces like Town Hall Square and Plaza de la Reina. The city has garnered numerous sustainability awards in recent years, including the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 and the Capital of Sustainable Food 2017.

European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2024: Seville

Seville joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council with the goal of protecting and maintaining its natural and cultural resources, and last year, the Andalusian capital was awarded European Capital of Smart Tourism by the European Commission in 2023, solidifying its position as a leading global tourism destination.

The city is dedicated to innovation and sustainability and will continue to progress its smart city initiatives to promote smarter and more energy efficient buildings and city environments, aligned with its long-term vision to become a climate neutral city in 2030.

With 200 kilometres of cycle lanes, Seville also ranks as among the best cities in the world for cycling.

Sustainability in Spanish Hotels

Spain shone at the 2023 GrINN Awards for sustainable tourism, hosted by Quartz Inn Hotels, a London-based sustainable hotel collection. Announced in late November, the awards recognized sustainability efforts across 51 European countries. Spain led the pack, winning the most awards with victories in 17 out of the 100 categories.

For a detailed list of winners, you can visit the following link: Full list of winners.

New Sustainable Travel Connections

Spain continues to innovate in sustainable travel by expanding its Vias Verdes (Green Ways) project, which repurposes old railway lines into non-motorised paths for hiking and cycling. With over 117 routes spanning more than 2,900 kilmometres, nature enthusiasts have ample opportunities to explore the country's landscapes.

To address transportation's significant CO2 emissions, Spain is enhancing eco-friendly public transport solutions. Notably, 90% of Spanish trains are powered by renewable electricity, substantially reducing the carbon footprint. A new high-speed line between Madrid and Oviedo, launched in November 2023, exemplifies this effort. Renfe's Talgo AVRIL trains now cut travel time between Asturias and Madrid to 2 hours and 43 minutes, operating at least three times daily. In the second quarter of 2023, Spain's high-speed rail network saw a record 8.32 million passengers, a 33% increase from the previous year, demonstrating the growing appeal of sustainable travel options.

More Than a Third of Spain is Protected

When it comes to the environment, nature and sustainability, protecting Spain's land is crucial. Proper care of these natural areas ensures their continued prosperity, and without, these stunning landscapes would deteriorate rapidly. Spain has over 70 million acres of protected land, accounting for nearly a third of Spain's terrestrial space and about 12% of its marine areas. Spain's significant efforts to safeguard its natural environment are a vital step towards sustainable development and eco-friendly travel.

Abundance of Biosphere Reserves

Spain has a huge amount of Bisophere Reserves, and when it comes to UNESCO-designated learning places for sustainable development, Spain has the second highest amount. Throughout the country, there are 53 spaces in total that are considered Biosphere Reserves, each dedicated to conserving biodiversity through innovative sustainable practices. 

For more information on sustainable Spain and conscious travel options please visit www.spain.info/en/ or for inspiration follow @spain on Instagram.