Iniciativas Eco-responsables y RSE

🌋 Ecologists urge Tenerife's Cabildo to protect Teide National Park from tourist damage. Jaime Coello, a director at an environmental foundation, criticizes both the high number of visitors reaching the summit and their disrespect for the environment. EuroNews reported Coello's concerns, highlighting inaction on the escalating situation. Teide, Spain's highest peak at 3,718 meters, attracts three million annual visitors, making it Europe's most visited park. Access by car leads to frequent congestion and parking excess, contributing to the chaotic conditions.

😃 Finlandia named the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year in the World Happiness Report 2025, supported by the United Nations. The report, which assesses well-being perception in 147 countries, highlights "caring and sharing" as key happiness drivers. Finland scored an average of 7.7, leading Nordic countries, with Denmark (7.52) and Iceland (7.51) following. Spain ranked 38th with a score of 6.5, showing a decline over five years from 28th in 2020. Costa Rica and Mexico saw significant improvements, climbing six and fifteen places, respectively. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list.

📍 Ecostars gathered sustainability leaders from top hotel chains to discuss the challenges and uncertainties caused by the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) yet to be transposed in Spain. The directive aims to enhance governance by changing how information is reported, impelling companies to consider sustainability in their strategic planning. At the event, technology was highlighted as a key tool for data management, and the need for industry cooperation was stressed, especially to support medium and small hotels facing the same obligations without adequate resources.

💰 Ashotel's president Jorge Marichal proposes a 5% wage increase for tourism sector employees in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where unions have called a strike for Thursday and Friday of Holy Week. The increase, according to the hostelry union, is only 4% and deemed "insufficient." Workers will vote on the strike this Tuesday. The proposal by Ashotel is partially retroactive from July, potentially nearing a 5% rise. Manuel Fitas, spokesperson for the Mesa Sindical de Hostelería, believes the offer falls short of the 6.25% demanded by unions, noting the current 4% plus a 2.25% increase would match the lost purchasing power. Negotiations continue with the looming strike and future convention discussions at stake.

🏖️ Pedro Sánchez, President of the Spanish Government, approved €660 million in the 2021 State Budget for sustainable tourism projects, aligning with his wife Begoña Gómez's involvement in 'Hola Pueblos' by Globalia and the UNWTO. Announced in January 2021 in Madrid, at the UNWTO Executive Council meeting, the funds were part of the EU's post-pandemic recovery plan, focusing on digitalization, sustainability, and sustainable development goals. Despite the budget allocation, legal issues and Globalia's financial situation halted the 'Hola Pueblos' project.

🏖 La quinta edición de los "Premios Traveling for Happiness", organizados por AEHM y Connecting Heads, resalta la importancia del turismo sostenible. En 2024, se presentaron 40 candidaturas. Este año se espera un aumento, con una nueva categoría "Preservación de fauna y flora" propuesta por National Geographic. Las candidaturas muestran compromiso y creatividad, evolucionando hacia proyectos con visión a largo plazo e integración de la sostenibilidad como pilar empresarial. Los ganadores se anunciarán el 2 de junio tras la deliberación del jurado el 28 de mayo.

🛠 Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, through Invat·tur and in collaboration with ITH, Visit València, and HOSBEC, launched the second edition of TechYRoom, an intelligent room-turned-living innovation lab for the hotel ecosystem. The initiative was presented at Caro Hotel, València, after its debut in Benidorm in December. The inauguration featured José Manuel Camarero, Javier García Cuenca, Tono Franco, and Santiago Máñez. Over 20 tech companies participated, 40% Valencian, marking a 23% increase in local company involvement from the first edition. TechYRoom 2.0 now encompasses the whole hotel ecosystem, expanding beyond individual rooms to include communal areas and operational processes.

🏖 La Secretaría de Estado de Turismo lanza una nueva edición de Anfitriones, un programa de formación turística, disponible desde el 31 de marzo, con cursos a partir del 7 de abril en un nuevo campus virtual. La iniciativa se alinea con la Estrategia Turismo Sostenible España 2030 y ha evolucionado con una oferta formativa ampliada y tecnología avanzada. Desde 2011, Anfitriones online ha registrado más de 15.300 personas, con 77.000 inscripciones y 33.000 certificados otorgados.

🏡 José Manuel Camarero inaugurated the ITH TechYRoom 2.0 project at Caro Hotel in València on 07.04.25, with over 20 tech companies, 40% being Valencian, enhancing the sustainability of the hotel industry. Initially launched in Benidorm in December, the project now in València aims to lead innovations in tourism, increasing Valencian companies' involvement by 23%. TechYRoom 2.0 expands from a single room to encompass the entire hotel ecosystem, aligning with sustainability and innovation goals.

🎢 Travelzoo survey finds 70% of Spanish non-cruisers interested in cruising by 2025-2026, with 68% having cruised before, 51% in the last three years. Key decision factors: itinerary, price, no-flight embarkation, ship type, and cruise line reputation. Unique experiences and cultural exploration are in demand, with family-friendly and adventure activities increasing. Luxury cruises are preferred by 66%, with all-inclusive options favored by 55%, and smaller ships for intimacy. Sustainability and local community support are crucial, with 51% valuing local food and drink sourcing. Top destinations: Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, European river cruises, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Egypt, and the Nile, with interest in world cruises, the Pacific, Asia, Canada, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand.