2. The Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) is an independent organization, founded to
implement actions and programs for sustainable development within the tourism
industry.
The Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) was created after a dialogue with UNESCO
and it maintains a Cooperation Agreement with this organization; it is a member of
the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and it is a founder member of the Global
Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), sponsored by the United Nations Foundation.

3. The Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) created and
developed the Responsible Tourism System (STR), which
is acknowledged by the BIOSPHERE certification, as an
immediate answer to the need of establishing a set of
criteria to regulate the sustainable behaviour within the
international tourism industry, promoting a sustainable
tourism activity and, ultimately, turning sustainability
into a tourist product itself.
It consists on a group of expert professionals, offering services to business,
companies, products and destinations related to the tourism sector, at a national
and international level, improving the profitability and promotion for entities and
territories where they are implemented.

4. Throughout its existence, the ITR has been awarded the following prizes:
European Business Award for the Environment (EBAE): During
the 1999-2000 edition, the Special Prize awarded by the press to
the “Responsible Tourism System”, developed by the ITR, stood out
among the winning projects.
Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2001, granted by THOMSON:
During the 2001 edition of Thomson’s Gold Medal Awards, the
Group of Biosphere Hotels in the Island of Lanzarote were among
those awarded.
Madera Verde Award for Environmental Responsibility (Special
Mention 2005): In 2005 the ITR was awarded the Madera Verde
Award for Environmental Responsibility, granted by the Promotion
of Social and Cultural Activities Association (APAS) in collaboration
with the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.

5. Sport & Tourism GLOBAL AWARDS (Palma de Mallorca,
Balearic Islands, November 2006): The Responsible Tourims
Institute was awarded the "Sport and Tourism Global Awards”
during its second edition, under the category of non-profit
organizations, focused on tourism and environment, for
continuously raising awareness about environmental values
and their dissemination within the international tourist
industry.
International Environmental Award (2006): granted by TUI AG
as a recognition of the work done by the Responsible Tourism
Institute.

6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Entity’s executive body, consisting of its senior
managers.
INTERNATIONAL COMITEE OF EXPERTS
ITR Advisory committee in terms of sustainability,
tourism, social responsibility and other areas related
STRUCTURE
to Sustainable Tourism, consisting of experts from
the main tourist destinations worldwide.
TECHNICAL COMITEE
Committee composed of expert technicians,
responsible for the decision-making regarding the
granting of BIOSPHERE certifications and the
supervision of projects.

7. WE HAVE WORKED
FOR:

8. BIOSPHERE certification system
The Responsible Tourism System (STR) is publicly recognised through
the BIOSPHERE certification, which truly shares the global criteria of
Sustainable Tourism developed by the steering committee of the
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Tourism consultancy: Quality and environment
Extensive experience in consultancy and implementation of
Management Systems specialized in tourist entities and mainly
developed within the tourism industry.
MAIN
Public Institutions
SERVICES Among its consulting activities, it offers advice to public
administrations.
Training in Sustainability
Organization of training courses for professionals in the tourism sector
in order to ensure that the tourist destination counts on the necessary
resources to manage its own development.
Event organization
It organizes and coordinates, at a national and international level,
events related to Tourism, Natural and Cultural Heritage and
Sustainability.
International Cooperation
It maintains collaborations with international organizations in order to
promote the international cooperation and sustainability.

9. Responsible Tourism System: BIOSPHERE Certification
Project on the analysis of tourist establishments for the development
of the Responsible Tourism System (1998)
• Project in collaboration with the General Secretariat of Tourism.
• Analysis of around 30 tourist establishments and their management systems.
• Implementation of the Responsible Tourism System based on the collected data
and on the Sustainable Tourism principles (International Charter for Sustainable
Tourism).

10. Responsible Tourism System: BIOSPHERE Certification
Creation and development of the set of standards for the Responsible
Tourism System. Certification of national and international
companies (1998-2011)
• The BIOSPHERE certification, promoted by the Responsible Tourism Institute
(ITR), recognizes and certifies tourist establishments that have made sustainable
management of tourism the centre of their activities and, therefore, are an
example of sustainability within the sector at an international level.
• BIOSPHERE is a voluntary certification based on the principles of sustainable
development through specific criteria on environmental, cultural and
socioeconomic behaviour, granted to establishments worldwide.
• Today, more than 100 companies and tourist establishments already have this
international sustainability certification.

11. Responsible Tourism System: BIOSPHERE Certification
Creation and development of the set of standards for the Responsible
Tourism System. Destination certification (2007-2011)
• BIOSPHERE certifications for destinations can be obtained by territories of
tourist interest and leading tourist cities all over the world when the competent
authorities involved make a credible commitment to sustainability and
responsibility principles in order to orientate their model towards sustainable
development.
• It covers Biosphere Destination, Biosphere World Class Destination and
Biosphere Starlight certifications.
• Examples of certified destinations are specified in the following sections.

12. Responsible Tourism System: BIOSPHERE Certification
International presence of the BIOSPHERE Certification

13. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM INSTITUTE:
MAIN PROJECTS DEVELOPED

14. International Meeting on Sustainable Tourism
International Meeting on Sustainable Tourism. UNESCO Headquarters, Paris (2000)
• Meeting organized by UNESCO and the Responsible Tourism Institute.
• The meeting was aimed to touroperators and was attended by the major tourist operators at an
international level.
• During the meeting, all problems related to sustainability within the tourism sector were analyzed.
• Also, the Responsible Tourism System was presented as an improvement and promotion mechanism
for Tourism Sustainability.

15. International Congress “Sustainable Hotels for Sustainable
Destinations”
International Conference “Sustainable Hotels for Sustainable
Destinations” held in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria), sponsored
by UNESCO (26th-28th October 2000)
• Conference’s objective: To promote cooperation and the exchange of
experience on sustainable projects within the hotel sector.
• Thematic content: International programs, legislation, tools for a
sustainable hotel management and new technologies for responsible
hotels.
• Aimed to: Government officials, tourism associations, accommodations
resorts, hotel chains, operators, consulting companies, etc.
• Organized by: ITR and the City Hall of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
• Collaborators: UNESCO, UNWTO, ITC, Island Council of Gran Canaria,
Government of the Canary Islands and General Secretariat of Tourism.

16. OCITURES 2001 Project
Development of the OCITURES 2001 project and development of the “Responsible
Golf System” standards. (2001)
• Through the OCITURES 2001 project the “Responsible Golf
Standards” are developed, which included the standardization of
good management practices for golf courses and the “Animal
Embassy Standard” with the standardization of good practices in
theme parks with ex-situ animal display (within the framework of
cooperation with UNESCO for the conservation of biodiversity)
• The San Diego Zoo (U.S.A.), the Loro Parque Foundation, the
New York Zoo, as well as the World Association of Zoos and
Aquariums took part in the last edition.

17. Euro-caribbean Conference on Cooperation for the
Promotion of Renewable Energies in Islands (tourist sector)
“Euro Caribbean Conference”. Santa Lucía (30th-31st May 2002)
• Project funded by the European Commission (Directorate General for Energy and Transport) .
• The conference’s objective was establishing cooperation for the promotion of renewable energies in
islands.
• It included the creation of an International Forum for RES, Islands
and Sustainable Tourism.
• It concluded with the holding of the Santa Lucía Wold Conference.

18. Dialogue “Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable
Development”:
• 28th March 2003. UNESCO Headquarters in Paris: Presentation and agreement for
the launching of the International Dialogue called “Tourism, Cultural Development
and Sustainable Development”, which would be held within the framework of the
Barcelona’s 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in early July 2004.
• Under the presidency of Mrs. Milagros del Corral (UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture)
the meeting focused on the presentation of the Forum Barcelona 2004 by Mrs. Mireia Belil, Manager
of the Forum’s Congresses and Meetings, and of the International Dialogue “Tourism, Cultural
Diversity and Sustainable Development” by Mr. Tomás Azcárate, President of the Responsible Tourism
Institute, which was in charge of the Forum’s Technical Secretariat.
• The main objective was to inform about the Dialogue’s structure within the subject areas this event
will be dealing with (Tourist Destinations, Sustainability in the Tourist Industry, Cultural Diversity,
Urban and Rural Heritage, Biodiversity, Promotion of Peace and Cooperation, new technologies and
knowledge society)

19. “Sustainable Tourism, local and global culture and cooperation”:
•11st June 2003. Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico: International Workshop “Sustainable Tourism, local and
global culture and cooperation”. Pre-forum Workshop carried out within the “Iberoamerican Congress
on Cultural Heritage, Development and Tourism” organized by the ITR, the National Coordination of
Cultural Heritage and Tourism of CONACULTA and the Colegio de Michoacán.
• The main objective was the development of the Workshop with international and iberoamerican
experts, analyzing the topics proposed and adding an iberoamerican approach.
• The contents of the workshop were:
1. Sustainable Tourism in terms of historical and cultural heritage in cities.
2. Sustainable Tourism in terms of cultural and natural heritage in rural areas.
3. Education and Knowledge Society in favour of Sustainable Cultural Tourism.
4. Tourism and Cultural Heritage as a driving force for International Cooperation.

20. “Implementation of Sustainable Tourism and ex-situ fauna conservation”:
•1st October 2003. Hotel Botánico, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife:
International Workshop “Implementation of Sustainable Tourism and
ex-situ fauna conservation”, organized by the ITR and the Loro Parque
Foundation.
• The Workshop’s main objective was specifying the topics to be discussed in the Biodiversity and
Sustainable Tourism Panel during the International Conference on Tourism, Cultural Diversity and
Sustainable Development, Barcelona, July 2004, like:
1. Identifying the opportunities tourism can offer to the valuation of biodiversity through its
preservation and ex-situ exhibition.
2. Establishing the basis of the strategy for the defence of biodiversity from zoological parks.
3. Contributing to the standardization of good sustainability practices in zoos.
4. Promoting good sustainable practices based on the quality and environmental responsibility standard
“Animal Embassy” established by the Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) and Loro Parque.

21. Workshop “Sustainble Tourism in Wolrd Heritage Cities”:
• 15th December 2003. Mosaic Room at the Alcázar de los Reyes
Cristianos, Córdoba: International Workshop “Sustainable Tourism
in World Heritage Cities”, organized by the ITR in collaboration
with the City Hall of Córdoba and Cordoba’s Tourist Excellence
Plan.
• It was intended to assert the huge potential that tourism
represents as a means of interaction and understanding between
peoples, cultures, races and languages. Tourism, understood as a
powerful tool for the exchange of human flows is one of the
natural allies for peace, since tourism and peace are inseparable
and are so closely related to each other that one cannot be
understood without the other.

22. Seminar/Workshop “Tourism, Natural Heritage and Biodiversity”:
• 15th-16th January 2004. Santander Central Hispano Auditorium, Madrid: International
Seminar/Workshop “Tourism, Natural Heritage and Biodiversity”, organized by the ITR in
collaboration with the Santander Central Hispano Foundation.
• The objective of this International Seminar and Workshop was the analysis of interrelations between
tourism and natural heritage, with a particular focus on its implications on the preservation of the
world’s Biodiversity. This issue was addressed in a generic way, but referring to tourist destinations
and the in-situ preservation of natural heritage and biological wealth, paying special attention to the
recommendations of the World Parks Congress, held in Durban in September 2003.

23. Universal Forum of Cultures of Barcelona 2004:
International Dialogue “Tourism, Cultural Diversity y Sustainable
Development”
Barcelona, 14th, 15th and 16th July 2004
• Collaboration in the organization of the Universal Forum, a
meeting on Tourism that brought together the key actors within
the sector.
• Over 1000 participants, with the participation of 100 speakers in
several sessions of the symposia where more than 68
presentations on the different realities affecting cultural diversity,
tourism and sustainable development were discussed.
• At the same time, several workshops were developed and 70
communications and experiences were presented.

24. Universal Forum of Cultures of Barcelona 2004:
Dialogue:
• International Dialogue “Tourism, Cultural Diversity and
Sustainable Development”. The Dialogue was a meeting forum
between all key agents of the tourist activity, turning into a space
dedicated to the open debate and free discussion of ideas and
point of views, organizing, besides the presentations, numerous
round tables and debates, observations of the basis presentations
(from which conclusions will be drown), communications
(academic ones or experiences) and the exhibition of products and
services related to the Dialogue’s topic.
The Responsible Tourism Institute was responsible for the Technical Secretariat of the Organizing
Committee of the International Dialogue “Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development”.

25. Forum’s Workshops:
• 14th July 2004: “Tourism for everyone”. Organized by the Responsible Tourism Institute and the Once
Foundation.
• 15ht July 2004: “Culture as an element for Urban Revitalization: Guggenheim Model. Bilbao”. Organized
by the Responsible Tourism Institute and the Provincial Government of Bizkaia.
• 15th July 2004: “Tourism, Culture and Tolerance”. Organized by the Responsible Tourism Institute, the
Provincial Council of Tourism of Córdoba, the Provincial Council of Tourism of Granada, the Tourism Office of
the Province of Seville, the Provincial Promotion and Tourism Board of Jaén, the Three Cultures of the
Mediterranean Foundation, the Council of Tourism, Commerce and Sport of the Regional Government of
Andalusia and the Provincial Government of Bizkaia.
• 15th July 2004: “Tourism Sustainability and Natural Heritage”. Organized by the Responsible Tourism
Institute and the Santander Central Hispano Foundation.
• 16th July 2004: “Environmental Quality and Tourism Sustainability: Towards the implementation of
brands”. Organized by the Responsible Tourism Institute and the TÜV Rheiland Group.

26. Solidarity Fair; Stands and presentations:
• “The Solidarity Fair” represented a real historical opportunity to contribute to sustainable
development. The FAIR took place in a 1500 m2 surface, with between fifteen to thirty thousand visitors
each day, and consisted of 22 original “truck-stands”, provided for free by the Forum 2004, for the
promotion of the organizations working for the DIALOGUE’S objectives.
The “Speakers’ Corner” was used as an
open platform for the programmed
interventions. Both the design of the Fair
and its program were designed to ensure a
dynamic and captivating experience.

27. Collaboration agreement with TÜV Rheinland
Agreement for the development of the label “Integral Tourist Sustainability” (2005)
• Development, as a result of the agreement, of a label orientated to the international
acknowledgement of Integral Tourist Sustainability (ITS) of companies and establishments.
• Structured in three levels on order to obtain various recognitions or certifications jointly:
 Level 1: BIOSPHERE Certification + Öko-Proof-Betrieb
 Level 2: BIOSPHERE Certification + ISO 14001 + Öko-Proof-Betrieb
 Level 3: BIOSPHERE Certification + ISO 14001 + EMAS + Öko-Proof-
Betrieb

28. Destinations 2004
World Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil (2004)
• Organization of the Seminar during the World Forum for Peace and Sustainable
Development.
Conditions for Peace
Social Development
Cultural Diversity
Environmental Preservation
Economic Development

29. Destinations 2005
World Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2005)
• Organization of the Plenary Session and conclusions of the World Forum for Peace and
Sustainable Development organized by the UNWTO, UNESCO and the Government of Brazil.

30. Certification of the Island of La Palma as a BIOSPHERE DESTINATION
La Palma, Canary Islands (2006)
• The island was recognized with the BIOSPHERE DESTINATION
Certification, this way becoming the first destination to obtain this
accreditation.
• The certification acknowledges the consolidation of this tourist
destination as a sustainable and responsible one through the
implementation of an integrated planning and management
perspective for the whole tourist system. Thus, all economic, socio-
cultural, environmental and institutional needs, both present and
future, will be met, achieving an integral human development that
ensures the role of tourism as a factor for their future achievement.

31. INTERNACIONAL MEETING: “MERCOSUR: Towards a responsible
and sustainable tourism”
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (2006)
• Organized jointly with the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo and the MAB
Programme.
• The Meeting’s objective was to design responsible and sustainable tourism
policies within the MERCOSUR countries.
• The event was based on topics such as sustainable development, environmental
certifications, biosphere reserves or the Man and the Biosphere (MAB)
Programme.

32. Project “Adaptation Services for the Management of Tourist and
Fishing Initiatives in Coastal Areas”
Advising on Sustainable Tourism within the fishing sector (2006-2007)
• EU Initiative EQUAL/MEDAS 21.
• The project “Adaptation Services for the Management of Tourist and Fishing Initiatives in Coastal
Areas” is created in order to support the adaptability of companies and employees of the fishing sector
and activities related to tourist and fishing diversification in coastal areas.
• Besides, the Responsible Tourism Institute was responsible for the
creation of two guides of good environmental and sustainability
practices within the fishing sector.
• The presentation of these guides was accompanied by trainings for the
most important sectors and groups.

33. Development of UNESCO’s proclamation process of “The image
and Legacy of Don Quixote as an Oral and Intangible World
Heritage”.
Castilla la Mancha, Spain (2006-2007)
• Development of international meetings in relevant institutions for the diffusion and support of Don
Quixote as World Immaterial Heritage.
• Presentation to the National Heritage Council its integration within the list of Heritage Properties
and its representation of Spain.

34. Development of the Declaration process of The Route of Don
Quixote as a “European Cultural Itinerary” by the Council of
Europe
Castilla la Mancha, Spain (2006-2007)
• Development of international meetings for the promotion and support of
the declaration of The Route of Don Quixote as a “European Cultural
Itinerary” by the Council of Europe. The Route finally obtained such
Declaration in 2007.

35. Creation of the sustainable tourist destination Valle del
Cabriel
Cuenca, Spain (2007)
• Development of a Tourist Dynamization Plan and an Approximations Model for Quality Tourism (MACT)
where training, product identification and marketing were considered.
• It covered the 7 municipalities within the Association of Municipalities of the Bank of the river Cabriel.
• We proceeded to the certification of several active tourism companies and accommodation
establishments with the BIOSPHERE certification.
• Collaboration during the Meetings on Environment en Sustainability in the Region.

36. Study of the financial returns of investments on Corporate Social
Responsibility for SOL MELIÁ Group
Sol Meliá Corporation, Spain (2007)
• The hotel chain Sol Meliá asked the Responsible Tourism Institute to elaborate the study and
assessment of the investments on Corporate Social Responsibility, their positive effect, the
improvement that they could imply on the company’s image and the financial returns for the Company.
• This work was based on a comprehensive study of the international bibliography related to CSR. Basing
on a developed methodology, specific conclusions for Sol Meliá were drawn. Various relevant case
studies were ultimately presented.

37. Benchmarking Study on the positioning of hotel groups in
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
Sol Meliá Corporation, Spain (2007)
• Sol Meliá hotel group, involved in the definition of its
Sustainability Strategy, seeks assistance from the ITR in order to
elaborate a report on the positioning of its competitors
regarding Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
• The methodology developed during the study allowed an objectified assessment of the
positioning of the different hotel groups.
• The annex included a description of the most important certifications, indexes and ranking on
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
• This study completed the one named “Study of the financial returns of investments on Corporate
Social Responsibility” of 8th October 2007.

38. Sustainability Strategy for Sol Meliá.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM MASTER PLAN
Sol Meliá Corporation, Spain (2008)
• In order to address the expressed commitments with sustainable tourism and a responsible tourist
management, SOL MELIÁ included the responsible tourism principles in its management by defining a
sustainability strategy.
• SOL MELIÁ’s sustainability strategy consists of the mission, vision, values and objectives promoted by
SOL MELIÁ and consolidates the chain’s sustainability policy through a Responsible Tourism Master
Plan which is based on seven major corporate programmes.
• The Diagnosis made by the Responsible Tourism Institute was the first reference point about the
challenges that had to be addressed by the sustainability strategy, the “state of the art” regarding
environmental management and the initiatives that began to be addressed from the perspective of
responsible tourism.

39. Certification of SOL MELIÁ as the first
“BIOSPHERE HOTEL COMPANY” group
Sol Meliá Corporation, Spain (2007)
• Certification of SOL MELIÁ as BIOSPHERE HOTEL
COMPANY, which implied the assessment of the
company’s global strategy and a visit to several hotels at
the international level to verify the implementation of
the strategy.
• Also, the most suitable hotels for the obtention of the
BIOSPHERE HOTEL certification were selected.
• The improvements made by the Group in terms of
sustainability are assessed every year through audits at a
corporate and hotel level.

40. Creation of the Tourist Project of Sky Observation in the Island
of La Palma
La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain (2010)
• Project in collaboration with the Management of La
Palma Biosphere Reserve.
• A detailed study of the astronomical observation
resources of the island was carried out.
• Afterwards, a tourist product was developed based on
the observation of the night sky of La Palma, orientated
towards the improvement of the island’s tourist
competitiveness at a national and international level,
using its sky as an attraction and distinctive offer.

41. Certification of the City of Barcelona as the first “BIOSPHERE
WORLD CLASS DESTINATION”
Barcelona (2010-2011)
• Project in collaboration with the City Council of Barcelona.
• The Letter of Commitment of Barcelona with the Responsible
Tourism System is signed in December 2010.
• The certification process of the city as Biosphere World Class
Destination starts with the implementation of the requirements
of the standard bearing the same name.

42. Outreach and Technology transfer Programme for the marketing
of special-interest tourist products in Olmué territories (Chile)
Valparaíso, Chile (2011)
• Cooperation project between the Regional Chamber of
Commerce of Valparaíso and the Responsible Tourism
Institute.
• The BIOSPHERE certification process starts for 31 new
establishments of the Municipality of Olmué, Valparaíso, in
the framework of the Outreach and Technology transfer for
the marketing of special-interest tourist products in Olmué
territories.

43. Seminars on Responsible Tourism in Chile, organized by the
EuroChile Corporate Foundation
Arica and Santiago de Chile, Chile (2011)
• Collaboration in the organization and holding of the Seminars on
Responsible Tourism promoted by the Eurochile Foundation.
• Participation in the first seminar’s opening conference “Responsible
Tourism, a path towards Development for Arica and Parinacota”. 22nd
March 2011. Arica.
• Participation in the seminar’s central conference. 24th March 2011.
Santiago de Chile.

44. Creation of the Landscape Tourist product of La Palma
Biosphere Reserve
La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain (2010)
• Project in collaboration with the Management of La Palma Biosphere Reserve.
• Analysis of the exsistent tourist infrastructure.
• Diagnose of the situation of tourism and measures for its maximization.
• Management and monitoring of the creation of a tourist product based on the offer and landscape
diversity of the Island of La Palma.