Sustainability in tourism: Experts warn of certificate madness!

Sustainability in tourism: Experts warn of certificate madness!

On June 12, 2025, the second day of the eForum took place in Palma de Mallorca, which dealt intensively with the topic of sustainability. The focus of this fourth session, entitled "The positive impact. Towards a regenerative model", was on adapting the tourism industry to new requirements. The event was opened by Paula Serra, General Director of Audiovisual Media of Grup Serra and moderated by Alicia Mateos, journalist at Ultima Hora. As part of the forum, three lectures were given and a panel discussion with municipal leaders was held.

A central point of the discussion was the role of certifications in sustainable tourism. Jordi Castelló, an expert in the field, made it clear that such certifications often have little impact if they are simply used as a sticker. He criticized the existing over 200 certifications and their actual value and called for a greater focus on scientific data and consideration of ecological, economic and social aspects. Castelló cited the example of Iberostar Wave of Change as exemplary.

Awareness of sustainable tourism

Estrella Díaz, professor of marketing and market research, complemented the discussion with references to destinations that have taken pioneering sustainable measures, such as the Azores, Costa Rica and New Zealand. She addressed current problems, including food waste in hotels, and presented innovative solutions, such as the use of smart data.

José Marcial Rodríguez, Island Councilor for Tourism, pointed out the restructuring of the Consell de Mallorca, in which the Fundación Mallorca Turisme was renamed the Fundación de Turismo Responsable de Mallorca. He stressed the need to raise awareness and create a one-stop shop for tourism activities.

The panel discussion was opened by Joan Monjo, mayor of Santa Margalida, who addressed problems such as squatters in hotels and the lack of staff. He also called for support from supra-municipal administrations to combat the lack of sand on beaches. Juan Antonio Amengual, mayor of Calvià, spoke about overcrowding in tourist centers and initiated municipal projects to improve sustainability, such as the introduction of smart buoys.

Challenges and solutions

Mireia Ferrer, mayor of Capdepera, called illegal tourism a major problem that also affects the housing problem. She advocated for strategies to equalize the seasons. Martí March, mayor of Pollença, criticized theoretical discourses on sustainability that are not translated into effective measures. He called for a political pact for sustainability and spoke out in favor of access restrictions to the Formentor.

Juan Luis González, first deputy mayor of Alcúdia, pointed out the bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of the successful implementation of sustainable tourism measures. He highlighted the negative side effects of tourism success, such as the lack of staff and the rise in prices.

More and more people are attaching importance to sustainability when planning their vacation. Sustainability certificates in tourism offer orientation for travelers and competitive advantages for companies. Loud Neue-touristik.de They help to evaluate aspects such as environmental friendliness, social justice and economic sustainability. The credibility and independence of these certificates are crucial when choosing trustworthy providers.

The spectrum of challenges ranges from greenwashing, in which companies try to present themselves as sustainable through their own labels, to the need to educate consumers about the variety of existing certifications. Transparent communication of the criteria and recognition by international standards are crucial here.

Overall, the eForum in Mallorca shows that sustainability is playing an increasingly central role in tourism and that it is more urgent than ever to find practical solutions to meet the challenges in the industry.