Ecotourist Commitment
Ecotourism as a core value.
We are committed to the well-being of nature
The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park, located in the province of Ávila, Castilla y León, stands out as a protected natural area committed to ecotourism .
The commitment to sustainable development is a fundamental pillar for the protection of this environment. The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park is home to areas with special natural values that must be preserved. This responsibility is carried out through the implementation of models and practices that ensure sustainability, thus contributing to the protection of ecosystems of maximum relevance.
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The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park adopted in 2009 the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) and has its second renewal, an initiative of the Europarc Foundation that seeks to promote sustainable tourism in protected natural areas of Europe.
CETS is a tool for work, planning and commitment that lasts over time. To maintain this accreditation, an action plan must be implemented, participation structures must be maintained and renewal must be requested. It is a joint process that is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the territory, including the Permanent Forum on Sustainable Tourism for all local and regional stakeholders involved (authority responsible for the protected natural area, community and conservation authorities, and representatives of tourism businesses).The Forum is the responsibility of all the stakeholders of the territory, including the Permanent Forum for sustainable tourism for all the local and regional agents involved (authority responsible for the protected natural area, the community and conservation authorities, and the representatives of the tourism companies) in the tourism development of the territory and the conservation of the natural and cultural resources of each protected natural area and the Working Group composed of the representatives of the groups that are within the Forum with the capacity to manage funds.
Both actors promote the protected natural areas as sustainable tourism destinations, through effective planning, management structures and participatory processes in order to ensure that visitors can enjoy the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park in a more sustainable way.
There is a Strategic Plan for the development of active tourism in the areas of Sierra de Gredos and Valle de Iruelas, coordinated by the Diputación Provincial de Ávila. It includes actions in the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park. The last period of implementation of the plan was from 2010 to 2015.
Significant progress has been made in the tourism sustainability of the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park, highlighting the development of astronomical, ornithological and mycological tourism, as well as the creation of hiking routes, equestrian tourism and mountain biking.
Currently there is a program underway that covers the whole province "Stelarium" with important actions in the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park, again coordinated by the Provincial Council.
Three phases have been elaborated for the application of the CETS:
- Phase 1: Accreditation of the protected natural space in our case the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park.
- Phase 2: Adhesion of tourism companies that meet criteria of quality, sustainability, commitment to conservation, local development and linkage with the protected area collaborating - and supporting the objectives of the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park in conservation and development. Currently in the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park there are 4 companies adhered since July 2013 and 19 companies adhered since January 2023.
- Phase 3: Adhesion of travel agencies with the aim of promoting the marketing of a tourist offer in protected areas, contributing to conservation and local development.
The CETS is a recognition of the park's commitment to promote sustainable tourism through effective planning, management structures and participatory processes, addressing key aspects of sustainable tourism in these particularly valuable and fragile territories.
The ecotourism commitment of the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park is reflected in various practices and certifications that seek to guarantee the quality of the tourist experience in a sustainable and responsible manner. This place, declared a Starlight Reserve on September 10, 2015, not only preserves its biodiversity, but is also actively committed to defending the quality of the night sky and facilitating access to starlight.
In addition to its designation as a Starlight Reserve, the park is part of the Natura 2000 Network, with categories such as ZEPA (Special Protection Area for Birds) and ZEC (Special Conservation Area). This designation highlights the importance of this space in the protection of birdlife and the conservation of its natural environment.
It has the Q for Tourism Quality certification granted by the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE) in 2008, a voluntary recognition that implies the application of a continuous management system to meet the expectations of visitors. The park has also been recognized by EMAS, an environmental management system based on voluntary European Union regulations, with the Casa del Parque accredited by this system.
The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park is part of the Natural Brand, a distinctive quality and origin of agri-food products, tourist services and handicraft products for companies located in a protected natural area. To be eligible for this label, each area must have its quality accredited by a quality figure held by a Public Administration or recognized entity, the products must be obtained, processed or transformed in the territorial scope of the zones of socioeconomic influence (ZIS) of the protected natural area and in which the company must have its registered office. In the specific case of tourist services, they must be carried out or supplied in said area, and finally, both the products must be obtained, elaborated or transformed in facilities that comply with environmental legislation and the services provided. This is an initiative of the Department of the Environment of the Regional Government of Castilla y León . Currently, the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park has three member companies, two agri-food companies and one tourism company.
The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park, as a member of the Soy Ecoturista Club, is committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices, respecting biodiversity and the natural environment. It promotes activities that allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of the park in a responsible way, educating visitors about environmental conservation and supporting local initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of the area.