Benidorm reiterates the need to reconcile tourism leadership and sustainable development

The need to reconcile tourism leadership in the sun and beach segment and actively contribute to sustainable development, is one of the challenges that the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, has put on the table today in the debate held in the framework of the International Tourism Forum that has taken place in Tenerife. Invited along with mayors of some of the main tourist municipalities of the country, such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife or San Bartolomé de Tirajana, among others, Toni Pérez participated in the round table held to reflect on tourism, sustainability and the challenges of the tourist cities, a meeting in which sectoral representatives also participated.

Pérez stressed the need to combat the perception that sun and beach tourism it is not sustainable, reaffirming the commitment to participate in sustainable development without giving up leading that tourist segment. "A challenge that must be faced with an exemplary management on sustainability because tourism is the basis of our economy."

Placing sustainability at the base of tourism activity is the commitment in which Benidorm is immersed, and Toni Pérez recalled that this is the focus of Benidorm's strategic plan since 2015, to become the first Smart Tourist Destination certified in the world . "What is not sustainable is not intelligent," he said.

Toni Pérez pointed out the need to highlight the potential of tourism to "stimulate economic growth, create decent employment and business opportunities, and help millions of people out of poverty and improve their livelihoods. With adequate policies, he said, tourism can contribute to gender equality, the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage, as well as offering solutions to many other pressing challenges today faces our world. " He concluded that "inclusive and participatory tourism can stimulate dialogue, foster mutual understanding and support efforts aimed at building a culture of peace."

The mayor again defended "Benidorm model" as "one of the most sustainable tourist cities in Europe thanks to its urban design and its commitment to vertical construction, demonstrating its value and power as a paradigm of energy efficiency".