Ecotourist Commitment
Conserving biodiversity since 1995
Conserving biodiversity since 1995
Since its declaration as a National Park in 1995 and its accession to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in 2009, Cabañeros has been committed to ecotourism and the practice of tourism that is kinder to the environment and its inhabitants.
The conservation of its flora and fauna, the promotion of local development and environmental awareness are fundamental pillars of this commitment. Here, each visitor is an active part in the protection of a unique environment.
Ecotourism a bet for the future of our people
Cabañeros is a benchmark in sustainable tourism management, thanks to the application of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) in 2009 and the System of Requirements for Sustainable Tourism Requirements of the Natura 2000 Network in 2023, distinctions that guarantee a balance between conservation of the protected area and socioeconomic development. Within this framework, initiatives have been implemented such as the regulation of visits to sensitive areas, the promotion of sustainable mobility and collaboration with certified local companies.
In Cabañeros, there are lodgings, restaurants, activity companies, wineries, cheese and oil mills committed to these principles that have adhered to the CETS, joining efforts in the sustainable tourism development of protected natural areas. As part of their adherence to the CETS, these companies have reduced emissions, manage waste responsibly, are ambassadors of the National Park and raise awareness among visitors about the importance of conservation.
Cabañeros National Park, together with the companies and administrations in the area, also actively participates in CETS forums, a space for cooperation where strategies for the development of ecotourism are articulated.
The Cabañeros Ecotourism Association has been a member of the Spanish Ecotourism Association since 2022. Thanks to this and the aforementioned sustainability recognitions, the destination and its certified companies have joined Soy Ecoturista, the brand of the Ecotourism in Spain product club. This will allow Cabañeros to be promoted as a certified ecotourism destination, highlighting the authentic ecotourism offer of its most committed companies.
All this has been reinforced by the Tourism Sustainability Plan in the Cabañeros National Park, which began in 2021 and ends in 2026. This funding has made it possible to make tangible the challenges posed by the implementation of the CETS and has been financed by the Secretary of State for Tourism, the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha and the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, the latter as the managing body responsible for its implementation.