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Food | 14/12/2022

Sustainability and its relationship to tourism and food service

After two years of hard work, in June 2022 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat obtained the internationally renowned Biosphere certification for sustainable tourism awarded by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), which certifies good practices on the part of tourist services and companies. The initiative is promoted in Barcelona by the city’s Provincial Council and Chamber of Commerce. The certification recognises L’Hospitalet’s commitment to sustainability and its desire to continuously improve in this area. As well as reasons related purely to sustainability, the accolade will also enhance the city’s reputation as a tourist destination, help attract responsible tourism and serve as an additional pull-factor for visitors.

Tourism is a system, or rather an ecosystem, comprised of a variety of elements: civil society, government, public sector, private sector, supply and demand. However, it is not the sum of its parts, as those parts – and their relationship to one another – produce something other than tourism. Therefore, every element must contribute to the development of sustainability, and be committed to the goal of making the destination sustainable. In L’Hospitalet, four companies have already achieved this certification, and the city is working to help more companies and tourist accommodation establishments take part in the process. Currently, the City Council’s Department of Tourism and Economic Promotion is organising awareness-raising workshops, some of which are specifically designed for tourist accommodation while others are aimed at companies. On 20 December a workshop will be held for companies based in L’Hospitalet, in order to present the 17 SDGs, highlight the benefits of a sustainable management system in terms of attracting new customers and creating added value, and explain how companies can contribute to the fight against climate change and help protect the environment.

The businesses that have been called upon to take part in sustainable tourism include wineries, restaurants, bars, cafés and tourist accommodation.

Sustainable tourism, when it is verified by a certification like the Biosphere standard, can bring social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits. Some months ago we discussed the key pillars of sustainable tourism, which seeks to minimise the impact on the environment, culture and people while helping to generate income and employment among the local population.

The foundations of the project are continuing education, business plans oriented towards continuous improvement, and working collaboratively with other organisations in the tourist sector towards the joint aim of improving the destination.

Reasons to join the Biosphere sustainability commitment

• Consolidate your brand for the long-term. Sustainable tourism is the only form of tourism that has a future. In order to build a brand that consumers will trust over time, you must carry out actions related to sustainability.
• Help promote a tourist industry that is more sustainable and committed to its surroundings. As mentioned above, tourism is not the sum of its parts; rather, the interrelationship of those parts produces a different result. It is essential that the industry as a whole work together in order to become more sustainable.
• Position yourself in an emerging market. At present, sustainability is still an emerging market. However, little by little, it will become the dominant paradigm. Jump on the trend as early as possible in order to position yourself at the forefront.
• Improve your company’s credibility and reputation. Establishments that obtain a quality or sustainability seal show that they are especially focused on excellence and the future of their surroundings. Customers will appreciate this, so make sure you communicate it to them using all of the means at your disposal.
• Attract new, sustainability-conscious customers. More and more food and tourism guides are highlighting establishments that are concerned about sustainability. Essentially, this is because there is now a market for customers who are concerned about social and environmental sustainability; therefore, if you position yourself well in this respect, you can attract more customers.
• Differentiate yourself and stand out from your competitors. Further to the above, by improving your positioning you will stand out from your competitors. It will be easier to ensure you are at the top of customers’ minds if you take sustainability-related actions and obtain specific certification.
• Generate added value for your products. If customers react positively to your focus on sustainability, this creates an added value that can be transferred to the products or services offered by your business. A product with a higher value also has a higher cost.
• Establish new relationships with other sustainable organisations. A community is built when relationships with other organisations are strengthened. By signing up to the Biosphere project you can make contact with other companies, collectives and organisations and collaborate with them.

A good practice guide for tourists, too

In addition to the actions designed to get companies involved in the development of sustainable tourism in L’Hospitalet, the City Council has also published a good practice guide and distributed it to the city’s main tourist establishments. The guide invites visitors to discover the local culture, cuisine, traditions and commercial establishments in an environmentally friendly way, by using sustainable modes of transport and making responsible use of accommodation.