Sustainability in tourism: Experts warn of certificate madness!

Sustainability in tourism: Experts warn of certificate madness!

Palma de Mallorca, Spanien - On June 12, 2025, the second day of the Eforum took place in Palma de Mallorca, which dealt intensively on the subject of sustainability. The focus of this fourth session, which had the title "The positive effect. On the way to a regenerative model", was on the adaptation of the tourism industry. The event was opened by Paula Serra, the General Director for Audiovisual Media of the Grup Serra, and moderated by Alicia Mateos, journalist at Ultima Hora. As part of the forum, three lectures were given and a panel discussion was carried out with municipal managers.

A central point of the discussion was the role of certifications in sustainable tourism. Jordi Castelló, an expert in this area, made it clear that such certifications often have little effect if they are only used as stickers. He criticized the existing over 200 certifications and their actual value and called for a stronger focus on scientific data and the 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 for marketing and market research, added the discussion with references to travel 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, for example by using smart data.

José Marcial Rodríguez, island council 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 emphasized the need for awareness and the creation of a central point of contact for tourist activities.

The panel discussion was opened by Joan Monjo, Mayor of Santa Margalida, who spoke to problems such as home -occupied people in hotels and the lack of staff. This also called for support for over -communal administrations to combat the lack of sand on beaches. Juan Antonio Ammengual, Mayor of Calvià, spoke about overcrowding in tourist centers and initiated municipal projects to improve sustainability, such as the introduction of intelligent buoys.

challenges and solutions

Mireia Ferrer, Mayor of Capdepera, called the illegal tourism offer a major problem that also affects the housing problem. It advocated strategies for the seasons. Martí March, Mayor of Pollença, criticized theoretical discourses on sustainability that are not implemented into effective measures. He called for a political pact for sustainability and spoke out for access restrictions for the design gate.

Juan Luis González, the first deputy mayor of Alcúdia, pointed out the bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of the successful implementation of measures in sustainable tourism. He emphasized the negative side effects of tourist success, such as the lack of personnel and the price increase.

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

The spectrum of the challenges ranges from Greenwashing, in which the company try to present themselves as sustainable through their own labels, to the need for consumer education, through the variety of existing certifications. Transparent communication of the criteria and recognition by international standards are crucial.

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