Being an EcoTourist in Spain // Mobile APP

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From now on, tourists from all over the world have another tool to better discover some of the most impressive Spanish protected areas.  It is a free multiplatform app (mobile and fixed devices: web, iOS and Android) in English and Spanish which aims to improve visibility, promotion and commercialisation of Ecotourism destinations in Spain. The project was developed by TUREBE, the spanish governing body – Ecotourism in Spain Club, and cofinanaced by MINETUR (Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism).

The destinations and businesses in the Club voluntarily comply with the environmental and social requirements established in the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas of the EUROPARC Federation. Thus they stand out as sustainable destinations and companies and connect their products to natural and cultural values by  means of authentic, unique and memorable experiences. Spanish Biosphere Reserves and Geoparks have used the same focus and similar systems to make sustainable tourism stand out. The aim is to guarantee attractive and trustworthy natural tourism, which also contributes to local conservation and development.

Spain, with more than 1,500 protected natural areas, has more than 7 million protected hectares (nearly 13% of the country). Not only is it the European country with the most natural areas, but it also boasts the Natura 2000 Network’ s largest surface area. Including the area encompassed in this European network, the area of Spanish territory under some sort of protection rises to 28%. Spain’s biodiversity parameters are also among the highest in Europe, with more than 8,000 species of flora (85% of the species in the EU), and nearly 50% of the estimated 142,000 of fauna in Europe. In both flora and fauna there are noteworthy numbers of autochthonous species. More than half of the European Habitats of greatest interest compiled in the Habitats Directive are found in Spain.

“Biodiversity is one of the main factors influencing travelling, since the wide variety of well preserved landscapes and ecosystems makes tourist destinations attractive. This is especially relevant in the case of nature tourism, which is based on discovering, enjoying and contemplating biological biodiversity.” (Nature Tourism Sector Plan, Spanish Government.)

This app was launched on 17th June at the headquarters of the EFE agency in Madrid, to coincide with the first anniversary of the approval of the Sectorial Plan for Nature and Biodiversity. The launch was presided over by Jacob Petrus, presenter of the RTVE programme “Aquí la Tierra”, with the participation of Monserrat  Fernández , deputy director of the National Parks Autonomous Organisation, Juan Manuel  Penín, director of Institutional Relations at the National Society for Management of Innovation and Tourist Technologies (SEGGITUR),  José Antonio Montero, vice president of TUREBE, Enrique Lancis, Director of Business Development and New Technologies at SEGITTUR,  Amanda Guzmán, Director of TUREBE and José María Cáceres, representing Lacq Consulting which developed the app.

Representatives of the businesses in the Club, natural areas, environmental foundations and associations among others were also present at the launch.

App available online, App Store and Google Play: http://ecotouristinspain.soyecoturista.com/

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