The Plenary Session of the Calpe City Council has unanimously approved the Declaration of Intent for Tourism Development and the adoption of the European Tourism Indicators System (ETIS), two key tools that will shape the municipal tourism strategy in the coming years.
These decisions, supported by all political groups in the municipal corporation, aim to advance towards a more balanced tourism model, prioritizing quality over quantity, and considering both the well-being of residents and the experience of visitors.
The Declaration of Intent for Tourism Development recognizes that tourism cannot be addressed solely through a specific council department but must be integrated into all areas of municipal management: environment, urban planning, social welfare, heritage, and mobility. The text establishes four fundamental pillars: environmental and cultural sustainability, universal accessibility, technological innovation, and participatory governance.
This commitment includes precise measures such as regulating carrying capacity in natural areas, promoting the digital transformation of the sector, mitigating seasonality, providing continuous training for tourism staff, and promoting local consumption.
In parallel, the Plenary has approved the adoption of the ETIS system (European Tourism Indicators System), a tool promoted by the European Commission that allows measuring the impact of tourism beyond the number of visitors. This system includes indicators related to water and energy consumption, the satisfaction of residents and tourists, accessibility, heritage conservation, social cohesion, and tourism's contribution to the local economy.
Calpe's inclusion into this system positions the municipality as one of the destinations that are committed to management based on real and objective data, capable of guiding decision-making based on evidence.
The Calpe City Council is now starting the implementation phase, which will include training technical staff, systematically collecting data, involving the private sector, and communicating with citizens. This is a process that will allow political commitment to be transformed into real and measurable actions.
The approved tourism strategy is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, allowing Calpe to stand among the destinations that are committed to responsible tourism development and engaged with major global challenges.