Sustainability news April n.3
April 2026
Reseach Office: Sustainability news, Sustainability news 2026
News from Italy
Vesuvius focuses on slow trekking and food & wine
Vesuvius is emerging as a model of sustainable tourism, integrating slow trekking and food & wine to offer authentic experiences and showcase lesser-known areas. This approach promotes redistribution of tourist flows and longer stays, combining culture, landscape and local traditions.
Cycling holidays
Monferrato by bicycle: introducing the new cycle tourism hub at the Castle in Casale
Monferrato is establishing itself as a sustainable tourism destination by opening a hub for cycle tourists at Casale Monferrato castle. This centre offers technical support and digital tools for exploring the area by bike, promoting active and eco-friendly holidays.
‘A World Is Possible’: why safeguarding is not enough
In Pollica, the Paideia Campus promotes a model of sustainable tourism integrating education, community and innovation. This international workshop, located in the Castle of the Capano Princes, focuses on regenerating ecosystems and communities through participatory processes. The initiative demonstrates how an area can become a centre of sustainable innovation by actively involving the local population and creating international networks.
Walking Tours in Cherasco: the ‘starry city’ unveils itself amid history, art and themed routes
In 2026, Cherasco will be inaugurating its Walking Tours, a slow tourism initiative showcasing local culture. These guided tours explore the so-called starry city’s history, art and traditions, promoting a mindful and accessible experience for residents and visitors alike.
The Rigoni Stern Way: 73 kilometres from, Vicenza to Asiago, following in the writer’s footsteps
The Cammino Rigoni Stern is a 73 km walking route between Vicenza and Asiago, part of the Cammini Veneti Network. The path promotes slow tourism, passing through notable cultural and natural landscapes, and showcases local heritage through an authentic and sustainable experience.
Open monuments 2026: 800 Italian locations to visit
Monumenti Aperti 2026 invites people to explore 800 hidden places in Italy, promoting slow and authentic tourism. The event, running from April to November, transforms Italy into an open-air museum, involving local communities in a free and participatory cultural experience. This initiative highlights the importance of shared culture and inclusion, offering a model of sustainable tourism of European standing.
Piedmont is home to the largest ‘savannah of Europe’: the Baraggia
The Baraggia, between Biella and Vercelli, is a unique Piedmontese landscape, known as the ‘savannah of Europe’. This once marginalised area is now an example of environmental recovery and an ideal destination for slow tourism. It offers a refuge for biodiversity and invites an authentic experience in touch with nature.
Spring in the Gutturu Mannu Park, enjoying nature, hiking and culture
The Gutturu Mannu Nature Park in Sardinia offers a spring calendar packed events promoting sustainable tourism. Through excursions, workshops and cultural activities, the initiative aims to showcase the park’s natural and cultural heritage with the help of local guides and operators.
News from around the world
The Americas
Argentina
New subaquatic artificial reef park in Puerto Madryn, the first in the region
An underwater park with artificial reefs is being created In Puerto Madryn, Argentina, to promote responsible tourism and scientific research. The project aims to reduce pressure on sensitive marine areas, improving the tourist experience and serving as a research lab for studying artificial ecosystems.
Canada
Parks Canada teams up with influencers in Banff
Parks Canada is partnering with influencers to promote responsible tourism in Banff National Park. The initiative aims to distribute tourist flows, reduce overtourism and preserve the environment by promoting lesser-known destinations and restricting private vehicle use in sensitive areas.
Mexico
Hanging up the hooks: fishermen support a shark sanctuary in Mexico
On Isla Mujeres, fishermen have drastically reduced shark fishing, reinventing themselves as eco-tourist guides and guardians of the sea. This initiative succeeded in protecting over 20,000 sharks by 2023 and aims to create a sanctuary for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, promoting marine conservation and climate resilience.
Peru
Ucayali: new ecotourism route promoted by Minam and the Sapani indigenous community
An ecotourism route protecting the environment and showcasing local culture has been opened in the Ucayali region of Peru. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of the Environment and the World Bank, involves the indigenous Asháninka community and aims to conserve over 5,600 hectares of Amazon rainforest, offering an authentic and sustainable experience for visitors.
United States of America
Exploring the open road era: how wellness and unstructured outdoor travel are reshaping American camping - what you need to know
In the United States, camping is evolving towards more sustainable and wellness-oriented practices, with a growing interest in outdoor experiences for getting back in touch with nature and unplugging from the digital world. Initiatives such as Leave No Trace and adoption of renewable energy by facilities are promoting responsible tourism, while unstructured camping and glamping featuring yoga and meditation practices are gaining popularity among Millennials and Gen Z.
Asia
India
New biodiversity gallery in Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary promoting ecotourism in Uttarakhand
The new gallery at the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand aims to boost ecotourism and raise awareness of the environment among visitors. Through information and visual panels, the gallery offers an educational immersion into the rich local biodiversity, also including historical elements of forest management.
Deputy CM inaugurates Puligundala Ecotourism Project in Khammam district
The Puligundala Ecotourism Project, inaugurated in Khammam district, aims to harness Telangana's natural resources and generate employment opportunities for rural youth. The initiative, supported by green and CSR funds, aims to promote the area’s environmental heritage and boost the local economy, all in balance with the natural ecosystem.
Sikkim launches 275 km ‘Call of the Himalaya’ trek to promote slow travel and rural tourism
Sikkim has launched the 'Call of the Himalaya' trek, a 275 km route through remote villages, promoting slow and sustainable tourism. The initiative aims to support local communities and rural economies faced with environmental challenges associated with waste management and infrastructure.
Europe
European tourism 2026: the age of digital frontiers, smart cities and sustainable travel - witness the change
In 2026, Europe is redefining tourism through innovation and sustainability, with cities like Tampere embracing advanced technologies and eco-friendly practices. Initiatives such as Spain’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy for 2030 and use of digital systems for managing tourist flows mark a shift towards more responsible and resilient tourism.
Finland
Tampere sets a new standard for smart tourism in 2026, blending technology, nature and wellness in a way the world has ever seen
Tampere, the 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism, is integrating technology and sustainability for responsible tourism. Through the Think Sustainably programme, the city is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, promoting electric mobility and environmental protection. The tourist experience is enriched by interactive apps and augmented reality, while wellness and local culture merge with digital innovation.
Spain
Mallorca Pledge: promoting more responsible tourism on the islands
Mallorca is promoting responsible tourism through the ‘Tourism with its feet on the ground’ initiative, which values local communities and natural resources. The Mallorca Commitment aims to go beyond promoting traditional tourism, favouring education, environmental protection and respect for the local area, with a focus on protecting the Serra de Tramuntana and intangible cultural heritage.
It’s official: Spain's green route is 27 kilometres longer, ideal for walking, and reaches the Ebro Delta
The Via Verde in Catalonia’s Val de Zafán has been extended by 27 kilometres, now reaching the Ebro delta. This European-funded project promotes sustainable tourism and cycling holidays, linking natural and cultural areas. The official opening is scheduled for 18 April.
From mass tourism to mindful tourism: how we travel is changing
Tourism in Spain is evolving towards a more mindful and sustainable model, as demonstrated by the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO heritage site. Here, tourism is becoming a conservation tool, showcasing local traditions and crafts. Initiatives such as the Mallorca Pledge promote responsible tourism, involving local communities and visitors in sustainable practices.
Portugal
Braga 2026: a UNESCO Creative City leading the way towards eco-friendly, accessible and digitally enhanced tourism
Braga, a UNESCO Creative City, is emerging as a tourism model integrating innovation and sustainability. The city promotes smart mobility and accessibility, using digital tools and augmented reality to enhance the visitor experience. Community reforestation and inclusiveness projects complete an approach focused on mindful and quality tourism.
Eco-Scenarios
Nature videography replicates the mental health benefits of outdoor activities
A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study reveals that videography of natural environments can replicate the mental health benefits of outdoor experiences, promoting more conscious and sustainable tourism. Immersive digital experiences foster mindfulness and emotional connection with nature, offering an accessible and educational alternative for well-being.
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