BE PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE!
The Limpias Council seeks to promote responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism for all, committed to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, which are universal in scope. Tourism is promoted as a driving force for economic growth, inclusive development, and the municipality's environmental sustainability. The involvement of the tourism sector in achieving the 17 SDGs can play a key role in engaging younger generations in a sustainability-focused future, which calls for collective involvement and participation.
The Limpias Town Hall has adhered to the Cantabria Declaration for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, titled "For a Cantabria Committed to the Sustainable Development Goals" It also aims to promote participation in the Local Entities Network for the 2030 Agenda of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). This network integrates local governments that voluntarily commit to implementing the SDGs across their public policies at the local and provincial levels.
In this regard, the Limpias Town Hall is working on localising the 2030 Agenda to adapt the SDG targets and indicators to the local context. Localisation presents an opportunity to redirect local priorities and needs towards more sustainable and socially inclusive development. This is an exercise in planning and more efficient management, starting from the reality of the territory and the actions already being carried out. The goal is to define how to foster more inclusive and sustainable development with existing capacities and identify what is necessary to have a transformative impact, leaving no one behind. In this exercise, integrated planning of municipal policies, implementation means, and measuring progress and achievements is essential.
To achieve this, we have the technical support of the Cantabria Coopera Fund from the Government of Cantabria and the Sustainable Municipalities Association of Cantabria (MMS) through the Local Sustainability Network of Cantabria (RLSC).
The policies for aligning and territorialising the 2030 Agenda must include participatory processes to engage various stakeholders and institutions. This will help construct “bottom-up” policies and contribute to building alliances under the SDG framework, ensuring effective governance of the tourist destination. Sustainable destinations must become spaces of pluralism open to innovation, through which citizens are empowered and local businesses and services are engaged in line with the SDGs.
Through the Department of Tourism and Sustainable Development, the project "CONTRIBUTIONS OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TO THE 2030 AGENDA: A NEW IMPULSE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LIMPIAS"is being developed, funded by the Government of Cantabria via the Environmental Research Centre (CIMA), under the call for grants for entities in the Local Sustainability Network of Cantabria (RLSC) to carry out projects within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. The project includes, among other activities, the design and implementation of the website www.turismolimpias.es , the renewal of the welcome signage to Limpias, adapting it to the concept of sustainable tourism and integrating the 2030 Agenda infographics, as well as hosting a launch event for Participatory Tables on Sustainable Tourism.
Tourism can contribute, either directly or indirectly, to all the SDGs. Specifically, it has been included in some of the targets of goals 8, 12, and 14, which focus on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production, and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. However, according to the “Guide to Sustainable Tourism” from the Spanish Network for Sustainable Development (REDS), we can structure the sustainable tourism policies to be developed in the following areas: Social and Economic Area (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10), Heritage, Resources, Environment, and Climate Area (SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15), Governance for Sustainability Area (SDGs 16 and 17). These policies should be aligned with some of the 169 targets included in these Goals.
We aim to promote inclusive tourism development and enhance its ability to mobilise resources for poverty eradication, social protection, equitable distribution of tourism benefits, and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups, particularly women and youth.
Goals: 1.3, 1.4, 1.a, 1.b
Tourism should stimulate sustainable agricultural production, the use and sale of local products and their full integration into the tourism value chain, as well as promote increased productivity.
Limpias advocates for sustainable tourism that emphasises the offer of local products and the valorisation of traditional gastronomy,improving nutrition, promoting sustainable agriculture, and encouraging responsible consumption models. We are also developing measures to reduce food waste by promoting best practices for adoption by the tourism sector.
Goals: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.c
We aim to promote the development of educational and outreach activities on tourism and sustainable development..
To achieve this, we encourage collaboration with entities, institutions, and educational and training centres to develop initiatives and projects related to sustainability in the tourism sector at all levels.
Goals: 4.4, 4.7
Actions in Limpias, as a sustainable tourist destination, should reinforce leadership and the participation of women in decision-making at all levels of destination management and the tourism production process, generating gender equality policies that promote female empowerment.
Goals: 5.1, 5.5, 5.a, 5.b, and 5.c
Sustainable destination actions must ensure the sustainability of resource acquisition, supply, sanitation, and treatment processeswhile also ensuring their quality.
We aim to contribute to the protection of tourism-related ecosystems such as forests, the Asón River, estuaries, and aquifers. We are promoting awareness campaigns on the efficient and responsible use of water targeting tourists, visitors, the tourism industry, and the general public.
Goals: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.b
Measures are being developed to generate qualified and secure local employment favouring entrepreneurship and the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in sustainable tourism activities and services. The aim is to promote the modernisation, diversification, and technological innovation in the tourism sector.
Goals: 8.5, 8.6, 8.9
Initiatives and projects aimed at improving, consolidating, and promoting sustainable infrastructure for tourismare being developed. This includes land use and territory planning, construction and accommodation, communications, mobility, energy, and the water cycle. Ensuring access for the resident population.
Goals: 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5, 9.a, 9.b
Limpias aims to develop policies that guarantee equal opportunities by promoting universal accessibility in physical and digital environments, transport systems, and facilities within the hospitality, services, and tourism sectors, as well as the promotion of local SMEs at all levels of the tourism value chain.
Goals: 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5
Through strategic territorial planning in terms of sustainabilitythe objective is set to preserve its identity as a destination and its cultural and natural heritage, with particular attention to intangible heritage. Tourism products and activities respectful of this heritage are being generated.
Programs for sustainable mobility and universal accessibility are being developed.
Goals: 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.6, and 11.a
It is intended to adopt sustainable production and consumption practices/criteria by developing circular economy initiatives based on the efficient use of resources throughout the entire tourism service and activity chain. Ensuring the selective collection and maximum recycling of waste produced.
Goals: 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, and 12.a, 12.b
Limpias aims to position itself as an action-oriented destination for combating climate change with the involvement of the tourism industry. Initiatives are being generated to reduce and/or offset the carbon footprint at the destination, as well as to promote sustainable mobility and alternative zero or low-emission mobility systems.
Goals: 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, and 13.a
Limpias is committed to improving the quality of freshwater bodies, including pollution prevention.The goal is to raise awareness and respect for aquatic ecosystems among the resident population and visitors. Sustainable tourism activities and services are being developed to encourage the respectful use of river environments.
Goals: 14.1, 14.2, and 14.4
As a sustainable destination strategies and measures related to the conservation and restoration of native landscapes, flora, fauna, and geodiversity are to be adopted including the recovery of ecosystem services. Sustainable tourism activities and services are being developed to encourage the respectful use of natural heritage and convey the values of the destination.
Goals: 15.1, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8 and 15.9
It is intended that the governance system includes all stakeholderspromotes public-private partnerships, and that the role and responsibilities of each party are clearly defined, including citizen participation systems and mechanisms to control, measure, and publicly report data.
Goals: 16.6, 16.7, 16.10, and 16.12
Limpias Limpias aims to join global and regional networks, projects, or alliances that contribute to sustainable tourism.It will promote and facilitate the exchange of best practices and knowledge to inspire the replication of successful cases of local sustainable tourism.
Goals: 17.9, 17.14, 17.16, 17.17, 17.18 and 17.19
