The Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca hosted the closing event of the European I-STARS project on November 14, 2025. The initiative, formed by six entities from across Europe, supported 125 tourism SMEs in adopting sustainable practices, pursuing certifications, and developing green skills, providing each business with financial assistance.
The event brought together project partners, SMEs, and sustainability experts to share insights on how small tourism businesses can enhance their competitiveness through responsible practices.
During the event, participants explored the main results, milestones, and learnings from the I-STARS project, and heard from local and European experts on sustainability and tourism resilience.
GSTC Chair, Luigi Cabrini, gave a presentation titled “GSTC Global Standards Reference for Sustainability Certifications,” where he talked about the importance of adhering to global standards and the critical role they play in strengthening the credibility, consistency, and impact of sustainability initiatives across the tourism sector. He highlighted how GSTC Certification has been regarded as the most trusted benchmark for sustainability and excellence in the travel and tourism industry worldwide. With the GSTC Certification, tourism businesses can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism through a credible, impartial, and rigorous assessment.
The event featured contributions also from María Frontera, President of the Tourism Commission of the Mallorca Chamber of Commerce, Alan Vella, Representative, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), Demetra Palaonda, I-STARS Project Coordinator, Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Jose Marcial Rodríguez, Regional Minister of Tourism, Council of Mallorca, among others.
Ultimately, the I-STARS project illustrated how knowledge can create ripples of long-term impact, emphasizing that sustainable tourism thrived when businesses grew with intention, awareness, and a shared commitment to safeguarding their destinations.
