Fitur highlights the challenges of managing tourism

13-02-2018 | Turisme de Barcelona

The 38th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), the tourism industry's biggest international event, was the launchpad for promotional activities to raise the profile of various tourist destinations. Turisme de Barcelona took the opportunity to present its approach for 2018 which, under the umbrella of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, will focus on the themes of culture, commerce and sustainability, showcasing Barcelona as the tourist destination which offers everything.

The organisation's work this year will be based on ideas such as segmentation, reinforcing the professional and meetings sector, focusing on local and authentic commerce and gastronomy. It is taking the approach of personalisation, digitalisation and modernisation of the city's international presence by means of new promotional formats. Turisme de Barcelona took advantage of the event to create synergies with the different agents and entities in the sector, and to create new opportunities for collaboration.

This event covers the tendencies and challenges the digital transformation brings to companies and destinations and the management of sustainable tourism policies. The challenges of tourism include technological progress and digitalisation, which is changing visitor behaviour and consumption habits.

Turisme de Barcelona took part in the first meeting of the Biosphere Destination Community, the community of sustainable destinations which have obtained the Biosphere certification. Barcelona chaired this first meeting, to be held every year, coordinated by the city of Barcelona, as the first destination to obtain Biosphere Certified Destination status in 2011, and with its certification revalidated in recognition of its progress in making tourism both environmentally and socially sustainable. In this context, the organisation will work to expand its sustainable quality standards to all operators, which will have an effect on the quality of the tourism products they offer and what they do, with a positive impact on the city and its inhabitants.