Ecotourism, Climate Change, and Regenerative Tourism Discussion at the Global Ecotourism Forum 2025
The Government of Catalonia is set to host the Global Ecotourism Forum 2025, a significant event aimed at redefining the future of ecotourism and sustainable tourism on a global scale. The forum will take place at the Hotel Mon Sant Benet in Sant Fruitós del Bages, Barcelona, from October 22 to 24, 2025.
Cristina Laje, the General Director of Tourism of the Government of Catalonia, has stated that ecotourism offers a differentiated and high-potential tourist offer, generating income and new sources of employment for local populations. She believes that ecotourism promotes sustainable rural development and helps prevent depopulation, as stated by Marc Vilahur, the General Director of Environmental Policies and Natural Environment of the Government of Catalonia.
The Barcelona Provincial Council and multiple enterprises and institutions are collaborating on the event. The Government of Catalonia, departments of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, and Business and Work are organizing the event.
The forum will feature the participation of international experts in ecotourism, conservation, and sustainability. Speakers include Héctor Cardozo Lucena, International Trainer and Consultant in Biotourism from Venezuela, Cristina Bajet, European Projects and International Relations at the Catalan Tourism Agency, Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development at Visit Finland, Arnau Teixidor from the IUCN (Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation), Anna Pollock, founder of Conscious Travel, and Jeremy Smith, Climate Action Advisor at The Travel Foundation.
Concrete solutions will be debated to address challenges in the sector, such as climate change, accessibility, inclusion, regenerative tourism, and technological innovation. The congress program includes keynote speeches, thematic debates, round tables, visits to Living Labs, and networking spaces.
Registrations and ticket sales for the congress are open and can be formalized through the congress website. This event is a unique opportunity for the entire Catalan tourist sector to adopt ecotourism principles, creating a stronger, more resilient, regenerative, and exemplary sector globally. International experts attending the forum can influence the future ecotourism agenda by shaping policy recommendations, promoting best practices, fostering cross-sector collaborations, and advocating for stronger environmental and social standards in tourism development.
