Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has attended this week the ceremony for the delivery of certifications of the Barcelona Biosphere Destination Commitment to Sustainable Tourism , which took place at the CCIB – International Convention Centre of Barcelona and which also gathered 400 companies that are part of the tourist offer of the city of Barcelona.
This recognition distinguishes the commitment to build a tourist community that respects the environment, culture and the social and economic return in Barcelona and its surroundings. The Commitment, which bases its methodology on work around the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, responds both to the desire to promote a more careful tourism by tour operators, and also to the wishes of visitors to be able to travel with the utmost respect for the environment.
This 2022, in particular, the Circuit has been audited taking into account improvement actions such as the certification of the Corporate Responsibility management system aligned with the SDGs; the approval and implementation of a new Strategic Plan of the Circuit to promote a more sustainable, innovative, industrial and digital model at the service of the community; and finally, the development of a fourth phase of action in the Circuit’s Educational Forest, a project that started in 2019 and that aims to maintain a sustainable forest management for the improvement of the forest biodiversity, as well as to promote the circular economy and the education of the community.
The award ceremony was attended by Xavier Marcé, Councillor for Tourism and Creative Industries of Barcelona City Council, Mònica Roca i Aparici, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Eduard Torres, President of the Executive Committee of Barcelona Tourism and Tomás Azcárate, President of the Institute for Responsible Tourism, as well as the different representatives of the 403 certified companies, among which Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was present.
In 2011, Barcelona became the first city in the world to obtain the Biosphere certification, awarded by the Responsible Tourism Institute in accordance with the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The Biosphere certification, renewed annually, has provided recognition to the city of Barcelona as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination, also thanks to agents such as the Circuit, who work to maintain this commitment to sustainability, health and wellbeing.