Mayor and Councilor for Tourism, Vicent Grimalt, chaired today the closing ceremony and presentation of diplomas to the project participants 'Green Transition of Tourism and Boosting the Circular Economy in Dénia', which has been joined by 23 companies in the city –tourist accommodation, catering, shops, tourist transport, active tourism, leisure and sports, among others- and four municipal services –Local Police, Tourism, Beach and Archaeology and Museums-.
This is a project of the 2021 Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan, financed by Next Generation European funds through the Spanish Government's Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Its main objective is to minimize the environmental impact of Dénia's tourism sector and make a transition towards sustainability, developing a working methodology that guarantees that participating companies and services can demonstrate the improvements achieved.
Vicent Grimalt emphasized that the project "has allowed us to take another step toward a more sustainable and responsible tourism model, a path that not only promotes environmental well-being, but also a more resilient economic future adapted to new global challenges."
The project was developed in several phases, beginning with a diagnosis of the environmental situation of the participants individually and of the tourist destination as a whole, based on seven variables: environmental management, waste, responsible consumption, water, noise pollution, energy, and carbon footprint.
Subsequently, protocols were implemented with environmental minimization and control actions for the various aspects detected in the assessment, monitoring the progress at each company and at the destination.
Finally, the progress and level of sustainability achieved by each participating agency was assessed, and an individual sustainability report was prepared for each company and service. Analyzing the data from these reports, a comprehensive assessment of the destination's environmental sustainability was conducted.
Today, the mayor presented participation certificates to the companies and services participating in the project, and a distinction for sustainable tourism to those participants who have implemented good sustainability practices and demonstrated an improvement over their initial situation.
Grimalt addressed the audience, stating that "you are part of a key sector of our economy, but it is also one of the sectors that puts the greatest pressure on our natural resources." He emphasized, based on the individual and overall assessments of the destination, that this is "an opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities we face as a sustainable tourism destination."
Finally, the mayor thanked the participating companies and services for their "participation, commitment, and involvement, as sustainability can only be achieved through the shared efforts of all stakeholders, both public and private."
I don't know what this is about. But the photos are really cool, another one for the work album. That's how a politician's work is measured. With photos.
"The main objective is to minimize the environmental impact of Dénia's tourism sector and move toward sustainability."
They don't even understand that, because if they did, they wouldn't say anything. But the only thing that matters here is the subsidy they scrape together.