Page 61 - Smart tourism: A path to more secure and resilient destinations

5.4.4 Definition/explanation of the case

Valencia is implementing a strategy based on a sustainable tourism development model, capable
of extending profitability to the social and environmental level, so contributing effectively to the
protection and enhancement of the cultural and natural heritage, with special emphasis on those
resources that give the destination its greatest authenticity and uniqueness. This model aims to
minimize negative impacts, always promoting the improvement of the quality of life of residents
and a positive perception of tourism activities among the citizens.

In order to turn these goals into reality, and with a focus on the fulfilment of the SDGs, a scoreboard
has been designed based on a broad international reference framework, which connects each
SDG with the specific indicators for tourism that have been selected (GSTC criteria, European
ETIS indicators, indicators included in the Spanish UNE 178502 standard, STD criteria), making it
possible to identify areas for improvement to fulfil the SDGs.

Within this strategy, the aim is to become a benchmark as a carbon neutral tourist destination,
offering real solutions to the public and private sector to be more competitive in the new paradigm.
The roadmap for the decarbonization of tourism comprises three phases:

• The initial calculation of the footprint of the destination and its stakeholders.

• The implementation of a digital management system (tracking the footprint and its reduction).
• The development of compensation projects in the territory.

Applying the public-private collaboration model, Visit València (a foundation dependent on the
City Council) collaborates with the Global Omnium group (an international group based in Valencia
with divisions specializing in sustainable water management and tourism). As the first fruit of this
collaboration, Valencia was the first destination in the world to verify the calculation of the carbon
footprint of its tourism activity, in addition to calculating and soon certifying its water footprint.

Using a powerful Big Data tool, the carbon footprint has been calculated in relation to the three
scope areas:

• Scope 1: The footprint of passenger transportation to and from the destination, and internal
transportation.

• Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from energy consumption in tourism activities.
• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions: accommodation, tourist consumption, waste management
and water management; and those related to cultural activities, festivals, sporting and cultural
events, and tourist infrastructure.

In turn, the study has broken down the calculation into ten chapters, so that the footprint
corresponding to each of the segments involved has been identified: a broad range of aspects
not limited to transportation, restaurants, infrastructure, public services and leisure activities.

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