The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the CETT Tourism Policy Dialogue, held on 3 December 2025 at the Hotel Universitari Alimara in Barcelona; a one-day event focused on climate change and its impact on tourism.
The dialogue brought together national and international experts for a program that included keynote presentations, case studies, and roundtable discussions addressing the relationship between climate change and tourism. GSTC was represented by Dr. Ioannis Pappas, GSTC Regional Director for Europe, who participated in the roundtable “Partnerships for Sustainability: Integrating Climate Change into Tourism Governance.”
In his intervention, Dr. Pappas highlighted the importance of the GSTC Standards and the need for cooperation among public authorities, destinations, and tourism stakeholders to incorporate climate considerations into governance processes.
“Integrating climate change into tourism governance requires more than commitments; it requires a common framework that allows destinations to understand where they stand and how to progress. Through the GSTC Destination Standard and the assessments we conduct across the Mediterranean, we see that local governments gain a clearer picture of their real sustainability performance — from governance and stakeholder engagement to climate readiness and resource management. When destinations and the private sector work within the same structured standard, collaboration becomes easier, decisions become evidence-based, and climate action becomes part of everyday management rather than an isolated project. This alignment of global principles with local realities is essential for building truly resilient and future-ready destinations.”, Dr Pappas stated.
Jaume Mata, Head of Sustainable Tourism at Visit Valencia and GSTC Member, also took part in the roundtable “Solutions from the Territory: Climate Responses from Destinations and Tourism Businesses in the Mediterranean.”
Overall, the CETT Tourism Policy Dialogue served as a forum for exchange among academic, institutional, and destination representatives, contributing to insightful discussions on policy and governance.
