Mallorca: Leading the Charge in Sustainable Tourism

UN Tourism has gathered its International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories to investigate concrete policy proposals that promote sustainable practices throughout destinations. The III Sustainable Destinations Summit was conducted in conjunction with the 2024 meeting of the Network (INSTO), organized by the Fundació Mallorca Turisme (Consell de Mallorca) with assistance from UN Tourism.

The events, which drew in over 100 attendees, brought together academics, government officials, development practitioners, and thought leaders to discuss important topics related to the global growth of sustainable tourism.

The imperative need to improve governance at the national and regional levels, as well as measuring the local impact of tourism through efficient data management, were among the topics covered. The delegates determined the best strategies to create implementable regulations that promote sustainable behaviours throughout destinations.

Science-Driven Transformation

UN Tourism’s Executive Director, Ms Zoritsa Urosevic, said: “As we are meeting against the backdrop of the UN Statistical Commission just adopting new metrics beyond GDP for measuring the Sustainability of Tourism, let us collectively mainstream—as INSTO network—this new set of indicators, placing sciences at the heart of tourism transformation. We are accelerating progress towards more responsible, accessible, and sustainable tourism destinations.”

José Marcial Rodríguez Díaz, Executive Counsellor for Tourism of Consell de Mallorca, highlighted the efforts being made by his Department "to promote real coexistence between residents and tourists, encouraging responsible tourism among all visitors and within a framework of sustainable development of tourist activity:

“From day one, at the Consell de Mallorca, we have been committed to the maximum respect for coexistence; this is our main purpose and mission. We cannot make the wrong enemy in tourism for all these reasons. We must find the balance between the temporary and permanent residents, between feeling visited and not invaded".

The UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) was established in 2004 to encourage ongoing progress in resilience and sustainability within the travel and tourism industry. Using methodical evaluation of tourist outcomes, INSTO establishes connections between specific locations, facilitating the sharing of expertise and optimal approaches for conscientious tourism administration.

INSTO comprises 45 observatories from the Americas, Asia, the Pacific, and Europe, including exciting new members from Austria and Colombia. UN Tourism has gathered its International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories to investigate concrete policy proposals that promote sustainable practices throughout destinations.