Spain: Roadmap for the Transformation of Tourism

International

Spain sets out its Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 with a focus on people and triple sustainability

The Spanish government has presented the final framework of its Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030, a roadmap designed to transform the country’s tourism model over the coming years. The plan emphasizes the three pillars of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental—and highlights the central role of people in the tourism ecosystem.

Broad consensus for a new model

The strategy is the result of extensive dialogue and agreement between national, regional, and local authorities, as well as the private sector. Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu, accompanied by Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez, chaired the meeting of the Interministerial Commission on Tourism, where the final aspects of the plan were approved.

During the session, Hereu stressed that Spain must continue to undergo a profound and courageous restructuring if it is to maintain its global leadership in tourism—a sector that currently contributes around 13% to the country’s GDP and provides employment for nearly 3 million people.

Record investment in transformation

In recent years, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has promoted this transformation with unprecedented public investment exceeding €3.4 billion. These funds, deployed through the Tourism Sector Modernisation and Competitiveness Plan and the EU’s Next Generation recovery programme, have supported modernization and resilience across the industry.

A strategy for people and planet

The Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 sets out a transversal government plan to create a comprehensive tourism policy built on triple sustainability. Its main objective is to position Spain as the global benchmark for sustainable tourism by:

· ensuring fair redistribution of tourism-generated wealth,

· preserving natural and cultural assets,

· fostering socio-economic growth with a focus on quality,

· and promoting continuous adaptation to new challenges, including digital transformation.

The guiding principles of the strategy were recently outlined by Minister Hereu at the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Summit in South Africa. There, Spain reaffirmed its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and its commitment to collaborative, internationally coordinated governance for sustainable tourism.

About the Interministerial Commission on Tourism

The Interministerial Commission on Tourism, attached to the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, is chaired by the Minister and includes representatives at Secretary of State or Undersecretary level from across all ministries. Its role is to ensure coordination of government policies that affect the tourism sector.