“A Path Toward Circularity and Innovation in Tourism” brings together over 75 tourism professionals
The results of the funding call for innovative and sustainable solutions in tourist accommodations across the Balearic Islands were presented
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, today inaugurated a tourism and innovation conference held at Parc Bit, organised by the Balearic Islands Tourism Strategy Agency (AETIB). The event also featured the participation of the Minister of Economy, Finance and Innovation, Antoni Costa.
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Conference on Innovation and Sustainability in Tourism Brings Together the Sector in the Balearic Islands
Under the title “A Path Toward Circularity and Innovation in Tourism,” the event brought together more than 75 professionals from the tourism sector to present the results of the 2024 funding call for sustainable innovative solutions in tourist establishments, launched by AETIB with funds from the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
A total of €11.4 million was granted to 73 projects through two program categories:
- Program I: Targeted research, development, and technology transfer projects aimed at finding sustainable and innovative solutions for the tourism sector in the Balearic Islands. 42 projects were funded with €9.7 million.
- Program II: Aimed at implementing and digitising sustainable innovations in tourism establishments. 31 projects were funded with €1.7 million.
During the session, six best practice cases were presented by companies that benefited from this call, showcasing the Balearic Government’s commitment to innovation in tourism. These companies have successfully implemented innovative strategies in areas such as water management, reuse and recycling, circularity, energy efficiency, and digitalisation. The projects featured included:
- H2Otel – Ms. Mireia Delgado, Business Director at Preverisk.
- Eco-H’ALJUB – Efficient water reuse using halophyte plants, Mr. Joan Sabater, agricultural technician at Sano Canova agrotourism.
- Furniture recycling and reuse at Houm Hotels – Ms. Isabel Vidal, CEO of Houm Hotels & Villas.
- RE-LINEN – Promoting textile circularity in the hotel sector, Mr. David May, Strategy Director at Polarier.
- Platform for triple sustainability and energy efficiency in the hotel sector – Mr. Magí Prats, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Enovam Pro Energy Efficiency.
- Development of a digital twin for hotel profitability – Mr. Rafel Bover, Co-Founder & COO of Hotelverse Technologies.
During his speech, Minister Jaume Bauzà stated that this initiative aimed to be more than just a funding call:
“It was intended as a tool for transformation — a bridge between research talent and the tourism business sector. A real commitment to a better tourism model.”
He highlighted that the success of the initiative lies not only in its numbers:
“It’s above all in the approach — the willingness to join forces, connect large companies with SMEs, transfer knowledge, and enhance our sector’s technological and sustainable capacity. I want to recognize the role of the Directorate General of Tourism, which has designed a funding scheme that is both useful and adapted to real needs, as well as the sector’s response, which has shown it is ready to innovate, evolve, and lead.”
Bauzà added that:
“This funding call is not a one-off measure — it’s part of a broader strategy. In fact, AETIB is already managing a new funding round with €1.5 million, aimed at social integration enterprises and tourism entities to further advance circularity, promoting regenerative economy and labor inclusion.”
Closing the session, Minister Antoni Costa emphasised that the Government of the Balearic Islands is leading a deep transformation of the tourism model:
“This is not about superficial tweaks — it’s about adopting a new way of understanding tourism: more orderly, diversified, and above all, respectful of our natural and social environments.”
He also underlined the importance of innovation as a driver of change:
“From the ministry I lead, we promote digitalization in the tourism sector, smart use of data, and the development of new professional profiles. We are committed to a knowledge-based economy that complements and diversifies the production system while also strengthening tourism.”