Sierra Nevada and the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism is a European Union initiative to promote sustainable tourism in Europe. The Charter applies to tourist destinations throughout Europe and aims to ensure that tourism is developed in a sustainable manner, balancing the needs of tourists and the local community with environmental conservation and the protection of cultural heritage.

Sierra Nevada has adopted the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism as part of its efforts to promote sustainable tourism in the region. Sierra Nevada's goal is to preserve the environment and cultural heritage of the area, as well as to provide quality and sustainable tourism.

To achieve this, Sierra Nevada has implemented various measures, such as the promotion of sustainable transportation, waste management, and the protection of the region's flora and fauna. It has also encouraged the participation of the local community in making decisions about tourism in the area.

In summary, Sierra Nevada has adopted the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism as a tool to promote sustainable tourism in the region, and has implemented measures to ensure that tourism is developed in a sustainable manner, balancing the needs of tourists and the local community with environmental conservation and the protection of cultural heritage.

Companies in Sierra Nevada as information points of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

The Regional Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning has accredited fifteen companies in the natural area of Sierra Nevada as information points for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS)The 'Casa de Gloria' in Bayárcal, a distinction to the tourist quality promoted by the European Federation of Parks, Europarc. The rural lodging 'Casa de Gloria' of Bayárcal and the activity companies 'in nature' El Serbal, of Abla, have received this accreditation with which four other Almeria establishments in the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada already have.

The adhesion to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism means for the companies an environmental improvement of their activity, a guarantee of quality for the services they offer to their clients and an advantage in terms of tourism promotion. The network of information points of the CETS in the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada in the province of Almería is integrated by the lodgings '....Hotel Almirez' (Laujar de Andarax), Camping Almócita y 'Gloria House(Bayárcal); the active tourism companies '.The Serbal' (Abla) and 'Al-Mihras' (Laujar de Andarax) and the restaurant 'La Posá del Tío Peroles' (Abla).

Sierra Nevada and the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

Sierra Nevada was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1986 by UNESCO. In 1989 the Andalusian Parliament declared it a Natural Park and in 1999 a National Park by the Congress of Deputies.

In 2004 it adhered to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism and in 2014 it was included in the Green List, an IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) recognition of well-preserved and protected areas.

The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Natural Areas (CETS) is an initiative of the European Federation of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Natural Areas (FESPA). EUROPARC with the overall objective of promoting the principles of tourism that respects the environmental and cultural values of the areas in which the activities of accommodation, catering, product sales, active tourism, etc. are located.

The benefits of this accreditation for the protected areas are, among others, greater coordination with other administrations and private entities committed to the sustainability of tourism and the development of the territory; an improvement in the quality of the tourist offer and better training and awareness of the population, as well as a wide dissemination of the values of the protected area. Furthermore, it is an advantage for companies to work in a territory with CETS, creating a specific tourist offer that satisfies consumers who appreciate nature, who want to connect with it and who are looking for unique experiences in natural areas.