Mallorca took center stage as it hosted the 2024 Global INSTO Meeting and III Sustainable Destinations Summit, bringing together leading experts to explore actionable strategies for advancing sustainable tourism.
Organized by the Fundació Mallorca Turisme (Consell de Mallorca) with the support of UN Tourism, the summit convened over 100 participants, including thought leaders, academics, government officials, and development practitioners, to address the global shift towards more responsible tourism.
Central to the discussions were issues surrounding the enhancement of governance between national and regional levels and the importance of effective data management to measure the local impact of tourism.
Participants delved into ways to develop actionable policies that could drive more sustainable practices across various destinations, reinforcing the need for improved coordination in tourism management.
At the heart of these conversations was the role of science and data in shaping a more sustainable future for tourism.
Zoritsa Urosevic, UN Tourism’s Executive Director, highlighted the adoption of new sustainability metrics beyond GDP, developed by the UN Statistical Commission. She emphasized the critical importance of using these indicators to accelerate the transformation towards more sustainable tourism practices. “Together, we are accelerating progress towards more responsible, accessible, and sustainable tourism destinations,” she stated.
Mallorca, one of the Mediterranean’s most popular tourist destinations, showcased its ongoing efforts to achieve balance between tourism and local communities.
José Marcial Rodríguez Díaz, Executive Counsellor for Tourism of Consell de Mallorca, underscored Mallorca’s commitment to promoting a harmonious coexistence between residents and tourists. His department focuses on encouraging responsible tourism and fostering development within a framework of sustainable practices.
“We must find the balance between the temporary resident and the permanent resident; between feeling visited and not invaded,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of managing tourism responsibly.
Since its launch in 2004, the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) has been a key player in promoting sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector. By systematically monitoring tourism performance, INSTO connects destinations worldwide, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices for responsible tourism management.
Today, INSTO counts 45 members across the Americas, Asia & the Pacific, and Europe. The network continues to grow, with new observatories joining from Colombia and Austria, further enriching the exchange of expertise on global sustainable tourism.
As Mallorca wrapped up its role as host of the 2024 INSTO Meeting, the event underscored the increasing importance of sustainable tourism practices. The discussions highlighted how scientific data, responsible governance, and global collaboration can create lasting, positive changes for the tourism industry. These efforts, combined with continuous monitoring through platforms like INSTO, will be essential in driving tourism’s transformation towards greater sustainability.
