The Pyrenees and the Lands of Lleida have received the distinction "Biosphere Gold Destination" awarded by the Institute for Responsible Tourism (ITR), due to its work in the continuous improvement of tourism sustainability of the territory through sustainability plans, as well as the work carried out to extend this commitment to companies and organizations of the destination.

The Secretary General of the RTI, Patricio Azcárate, has been responsible for the delivery of this distinction to Joan Talarn, president of the Provincial Council, Juan Antonio Serrano, vice president of the Board, Rosa Pujol, president of the Tourism Commission and Juli Alegre, head of Promotion and Marketing, in the space "Ara Lleida" within the stand of Catalonia in Fitur 2024, reinforcing the commitment of the Tourist Board to work in a more sustainable management of the territory.

Joan Talarn, said that "thanks to the impulse of the Tourist Board in 2021 the 'Biosphere Destination' certification was achieved for the Pyrenees and the Lands of Lleida, which was revalidated in March 2023. Currently the demarcation of Lleida has 218 tourism companies and entities working on specific plans to improve sustainability", 28 are already certified, 125 have committed to a sustainability plan reviewed by Biosphere and the rest are in the process.

Talarn has underlined the commitment acquired by this large number of companies and entities of the demarcation of Lleida that have embraced and adhered to this project, carrying out to date 1,886 actions with 3,894 activities linked to sustainability and regenerative tourism in the Pyrenees and the Lands of Lleida, generating a positive impact in the social and environmental field, in addition to benefiting the local economy".

The Patronat, after achieving the "Biosphere Destination" certification for the Pyrenees and the Lands of Lleida in 2021, offered in 2022 to tourism companies and entities the "Biosphere Sustainable" platform, which helps the sector to develop customized sustainability plans through the selection of more than 500 sustainable activities and actions, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030. Even so, since the end of 2023 the Patronat has offered in the city councils of the entire demarcation of Lleida a line of participation to the development of territorial tourism sustainability plans within the framework of the Biosphere project, aligned with the strategies and plans developed by the Patronat.

All these actions have been the basis of the distinction awarded today to Fitur with the "BIOSPHERE GOLD DESTINATION" certification, thanks to the work for continuous improvement in sustainability and the involvement of the business sector of the destination, which are aligned with the Strategic Tourism Plan of the Pyrenees and the Lands of Lleida 2023-2026 focused on 4 specific framework objectives such as: Sustainability, Excellence, Co-responsibility and Innovation.