Spain advances 2030 Tourism Strategy with new Biennial Plan for 2026-2027

International

The Spanish government is accelerating the implementation of its long-term tourism strategy with new measures focused on sustainability, competitiveness and social cohesion

Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism has taken another step in the rollout of the country’s Tourism Strategy 2030 with the preparation of a new Biennial Plan for 2026-2027. The plan is intended to prioritise key actions for the coming two years and strengthen the transformation of Spain’s tourism industry through environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the working group of the Interministerial Tourism Commission, chaired by Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez. The commission is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the national tourism strategy across multiple areas of government.

Sánchez described the strategy as a central instrument for positioning Spain as a global leader in sustainable tourism. “We continue advancing in the deployment and implementation of the Spanish tourism strategy with the conviction that it will be the key instrument to lead sustainable tourism worldwide from the environmental, social and economic perspectives,” she said.

Nearly the entire government involved in tourism strategy

One of the defining elements of the Tourism Strategy 2030 is its cross-government structure. The programme includes 50 measures and 148 specific instruments involving 18 of Spain’s 22 ministries.

The latest interministerial meeting focused on assessing the current level of implementation and defining the timeline for measures planned over the next two years.

The Biennial Plan covers initiatives aimed at destinations, tourism businesses, workers, residents and travellers. According to the ministry, the strategy seeks to balance tourism growth with quality of life and long-term environmental goals.

Among the priority measures is the creation of an early-response tourism crisis committee. The mechanism is already being used to assess the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the tourism industry.

Focus on sustainable aviation and climate measures

The new plan also includes measures to improve energy efficiency and support the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which the government considers a strategic pillar for reducing emissions and advancing the decarbonisation of air transport in Spain.

In parallel, authorities are working on the development of a Tourism Intensity Atlas designed to improve data analysis and support decision-making related to visitor flows and tourism pressure in destinations.

Additional measures focus on digitalisation within the tourism ecosystem, climate change mitigation and broader efforts to strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the industry.

Implementation already under way

The interministerial working group is also responsible for monitoring the progress of the Tourism Strategy 2030. According to the government, implementation has already begun for 45 per cent of the instruments included in the programme.

The Biennial Plan 2026-2027 is expected to provide a more detailed timetable for the next phase of measures as Spain continues reshaping its tourism model for the coming decade.