Incorporating sustainability into tourism policy: A strategic agenda for Spain

Abstract

Recent literature recognises that sustainability, as well as a shifting approach to responsibility in tourism production and consumption, may be a differentiator in the positioning of destinations in tourism markets, especially in the most demanding ones. Likewise, it is acknowledged that it will be difficult to make progress in tourism sustainability without a direct, clear and resolute involvement of policymakers in destinations management. Therefore, the incorporation of the paradigm of sustainability in tourism policy is a key issue.
This paper proposes a methodology for incorporating sustainability into tourism policy. Using qualitative analysis techniques (Delphi and focus group), an assessment is carried out, leading to the subsequent design of a strategic agenda for incorporating sustainability into Spanish tourism policy. Spain has been chosen as one of the world’s top tourism destinations, which is also currently undergoing a restructuring process of its tourism model, too dependent on coastal tourism, which is considered exhausted, obsolete and lacking in competitiveness.