Tarragona, New Tourist Destination with Biosphere Certification

The city has successfully passed a comprehensive external audit verifying the implementation of sustainable best practices.

Tarragona has joined the international network of destinations committed to a tourism model aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its leadership as a reference in sustainability, culture, and territorial responsibility. This achievement comes with the Biosphere certification, marking a significant step forward as a sustainable tourist destination.

This milestone consolidates Tarragona as one of the leading sustainable destinations in Catalonia and strengthens its commitment to a more balanced tourism model that is respectful of the environment and aligned with the social, environmental, and cultural values of its community.

Tarragona, a Mediterranean city with a two-thousand-year-old heritage recognized by UNESCO, is moving toward a more sustainable tourism model by obtaining the Biosphere Certified distinction, awarded by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI).

How Tarragona obtained the certification

Tarragona successfully passed a comprehensive external audit that verified the implementation of sustainable best practices in its tourism management. Tarragona Biosphere Destination is a recognition that not only guarantees compliance with the commitments undertaken by the city but also allows for the continuous monitoring and improvement of results in key areas such as governance, environment, circular economy, social inclusion, culture, and tourism quality.

Under the slogan “Tarragona, between blue and green”, the Tarragona City Council is implementing a sustainable ecotourism model with the support of the Tourism Sustainability Plan at Destination, funded by the European Next Generation Funds as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. This project focuses on green and digital transition, energy efficiency, and city competitiveness, thus consolidating a long-term strategy for sustainable tourism in Tarragona.

The Councilor for Tourism, Economic Promotion, and Commerce, Montse Adan, stated:
“The Biosphere certificate represents a firm and important step toward the tourism we want for Tarragona and for which we are working: sustainable tourism, with social and environmental values that respect our territory.”

A model aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals

Thanks to the Biosphere methodology, Tarragona has been able to assess and connect its tourism initiatives with the 17 United Nations SDGs, generating data and indicators that allow for a rigorous measurement of the destination’s social, environmental, cultural, and economic impact.

Tarragona thus joins the international community of Biosphere sustainable destinations, a global network of territories committed to responsible and regenerative tourism, based on principles of transparency, continuous improvement, and active participation of all stakeholders in the sector.

Recognition of a city with identity, history, and sustainability

Biosphere has congratulated the technical team of the Tarragona City Council and all the individuals and institutions that contributed to achieving this success.

Tarragona is not only living history, with its Roman heritage recognized as a World Heritage Site, but also a vibrant city 365 days a year, combining culture, gastronomy, nature, and the sea in an environment that invites visitors to enjoy it in a relaxed and mindful way.

This recognition is also an invitation for other destinations to follow Tarragona’s example and adopt responsible tourism management, placing people, biodiversity, and the cultural heritage of the territories at the center.