‘Spain and Britain created tourism – now we must invent sustainable tourism’

Albeit softly spoken, the Spanish Tourist Office’s UK director Manuel Butler had a strong, steely message for the UK travel trade at Spain’s second annual sustainability day on Wednesday (17 April).

“Tourism was invented by the Spaniards and the Brits together – now it’s time we invented sustainable tourism,” Butler told TTG.

As one of Europe – and the world’s – most popular destinations, Spain has rightly been at the forefront of travel’s transition to a more sustainable future, and opted to place a number of lesser-discussed, thought-provoking issues centre stage at the event, such as the circular economy, biodiversity and accessibility.

Butler told the 80 delegates gathered in London the event sought to encourage “important dialogue” on sustainability challenges and “transfer knowledge” between Spain and the UK.

Here are some of the lessons we learned.

Circular thinking

Delegates heard that while travel and tourism is lagging behind on its transition to a circular economy – implementing sustainable practices to encourage reuse, repair and recycling – the sector is becoming more receptive to it.

Abta head of sustainability Carol Rose explained circularity can only be introduced by employing disruptive thinking and changing the way people operate at all levels.

“It’s time to address the mindset around circularity,” she told delegates. “It’s about employing disruptive thinking in your own organisation and in your own way of doing things.”

Travel Corporation global sustainability manager Nadine Pinto, meanwhile, said the group was currently looking at policies to better embed circularity in its processes and operations, and had made a start by removing often disposable merchandising and plastics.