Mallorca, the picturesque Balearic Island, recently took center stage in the global conversation on sustainable tourism by hosting the 2024 Global International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) Meeting and the III Sustainable Destinations Summit. These influential gatherings, organized by the Fundació Mallorca Turisme in collaboration with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), brought together over 100 participants, including renowned experts, academics, government officials, and development practitioners, all united in their commitment to advancing sustainable tourism practices worldwide.
The meetings provided a critical platform to address pressing issues concerning the governance of sustainable tourism on both national and regional levels. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions to understand and quantify tourism’s local impacts, recognizing the need for robust scientific data to inform the development of effective sustainable tourism policies. A key highlight of the event was a powerful speech by Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, the Executive Director of UNWTO, who emphasized the importance of incorporating scientific indicators into the tourism sector. She highlighted the UN Statistical Commission’s recent adoption of new metrics beyond GDP, which are now available to comprehensively measure the sustainability of tourism. Ms. Urosevic urged INSTO network members to actively integrate these new metrics, stating, “Together, we are accelerating progress towards more responsible, accessible, and sustainable tourism destinations.”
This focus on science-driven transformation was further echoed by José Marcial Rodríguez Díaz, Executive Counsellor for Tourism of Consell de Mallorca. He acknowledged the delicate balance between tourism and the well-being of local residents, highlighting Mallorca’s proactive efforts to foster coexistence between visitors and residents within a framework of sustainable development. Rodríguez Díaz emphasized that responsible tourism management is essential to ensure that local communities feel visited, not overwhelmed.
Since its inception in 2004, the UNWTO’s INSTO network has been instrumental in fostering sustainability and resilience within the global tourism sector. By meticulously monitoring tourism performance and sharing best practices, INSTO connects destinations worldwide to enhance responsible tourism management. The network currently boasts 45 members representing the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, with the recent addition of new observatories from Colombia and Austria. These observatories play a vital role in gathering data and insights that help destinations promote more sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
The 2024 Global INSTO Meeting and III Sustainable Destinations Summit in Mallorca served as a crucial platform for stakeholders to collaborate on developing science-driven, actionable policies. The impactful discussions and knowledge exchange during these events will undoubtedly contribute to shaping the future of tourism, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and community well-being. By bringing together key players from the tourism industry, these events underscored the critical need for collaboration and innovative approaches to ensure that tourism remains a force for good, both economically and environmentally, in destinations worldwide.