Frequently asked questions

This is a programme aimed at private companies, public services, and entities in Barcelona city and its surrounding region that wish to improve their sustainable tourism management and strengthen their positioning as a tourist destination. 

The initiative seeks to recognise businesses, services and organisations committed to environmentally and culturally responsible practices that deliver social and economic benefits for Barcelona and its region. Its methodology aligns with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda.

The programme is led by Barcelona Provincial Council and Barcelona City Council, with support from the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the Barcelona Tourism Consortium and regional tourism bodies across the province.

An internationally recognised certification, aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that promotes sustainable development in the tourism industry while preserving the social and cultural authenticity of destinations.

The Biosphere® certification is awarded by the Institute for Responsible Tourism (ITR). To obtain it, the ITR verifies the sustainable, individual and effective practices implemented by each private company (including groups or chains), public service or entity. This is done through an independent third-party audit that highlights and validates their sustainability efforts.

The Biosphere® certification is endorsed by leading OTAs and booking platforms, including Booking.com, Google, Agoda, easyJet, TUI and Expedia.

Destination Barcelona (encompassing Barcelona city and the three provincial tourism brands: Costa Barcelona, Paisatges Barcelona, and Pirineus Barcelona) is the only destination in the world certified as Biosphere Platinum. This accolade highlights its leadership in driving environmentally committed, friendly and sustainable tourism. The journey began in 2011, when Barcelona became the first urban destination globally to receive Biosphere certification. In 2017, Barcelona Provincial Council extended this certification to its three regional tourism brands. 

This is a pioneering certification, internationally recognised and based on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda. 

Thanks to the Destination Barcelona Biosphere Platinum certification, private businesses, tourism services, and public entities across Barcelona’s 12 regions benefit from the Destination Barcelona Commitment to Sustainable Tourism programme.

• It positions your business in an emerging market.

• It enhances your credibility and reputation.

• It attracts sustainability-conscious clientele.

• You differentiate yourself and stand out from competitors.

• It adds value to your products and services.

• It allows you to build new relationships with sustainable organisations.

• It brings advantages in training, promotional opportunities and exclusive discounts.

• You gain visibility in major search engines (e.g., Google, Booking.com, Agoda).

• It helps you to improve long-term business efficiency and planning.

• It enables you to contribute to a more environmentally sustainable and friendly tourism sector.

• Obtaining an internationally recognised certification: Biosphere®.

The process runs annually, starting in the first quarter of each year and concluding in December once mandatory commitments are fulfilled:

1. Information sessions.

2. Formalise the membership. 

3. Attend annual training sessions. 

4. Get the consultancy firm to carry out the counselling. 

5. Address mandatory criteria from the Code of Good Practice via the management platform.

6. Develop an improvement plan (3 new sustainability actions per year).

7. Participate in the collective destination session. 

Beyond the training sessions and collective destination session (a few mornings or afternoons per year), you’ll need to allocate time for advisory hours (5 hours in the first year, 1 hour in subsequent years), for completing the Code of Good Practice questionnaire and for preparing your annual improvement plan via the platform. Some organisations complete the entire process within a couple of months, while others spread it across the year.  

For renewals, the process can be finalised in the first half of each year.

Once you join the programme, you will be assigned a consultancy firm that will provide individualised guidance throughout the process. During the advisory session, you have to review the sustainability requirements your organisation must meet according to the platform’s Code of Good Practice and draft the improvement plan for the current year.

After the session, a report will be prepared detailing any unmet requirements and additional recommendations. 

The manuals of best practices include the requirements that must be met and vary according to the tourism type and reality of your organisation. It includes both mandatory requirements and recommended actions to improve sustainability management in your organisation. 

The areas on which the different requirements have been formulated are Climate Change, Environment, Social, Economy and Culture. 

The improvement plan records the actions your organisation must implement during the year. A minimum of 3 new improvements must be added annually to ensure continuous progress in sustainability. 

This is an in-person working session where you connect with other tourism businesses and organisations in your area to build a network for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and synergies. 

These sessions focus on themes to enhance the competitiveness of your business and the destination through workshops, sector-specific meetings, dynamics, benchmarking, etc. 

This board comprises representatives from various economic and social stakeholders involved in the destination’s tourism activities. It is responsible for approving compliance with commitments by businesses and services, and for liaising with the ITR to conduct third-party audits and issue the Biosphere® certification.

The advisory firm will verify that your organisation has met the mandatory commitments and prepare a verification report, which will be submitted to the Tourism Sustainability Board. 

The final step is validation by the Responsible Tourism Institute. Companies that have passed the whole process will receive the Biosphere® certification, whereas destinations that pass the process will receive the Sustainable Committed label. 

The certification is valid for one year, from January to December of the following year.

For renewal, organisations must fulfil the established commitments to maintain certification, a process preferably carried out in the first half of the year.

You must enter your details and those of your organisation on this form. Once received, we will contact you to provide information, answer questions, and send the documentation required to begin the adhesion process. 

Any public or private entity linked to the tourism sector operating in the city or surrounding regions of Barcelona.

The cost of adhering to the Destination Barcelona Tourism Sustainability Commitment (Biosphere® certification) is subsidised as follows:

• Fully covered by Barcelona City Council (via the tourist stay tax) for entities based in the city or members of Turisme de Barcelona.

• Partially covered by Barcelona Provincial Council for entities in the surrounding regions of Barcelona (exempt fees may apply).

Contact us for more information.