Sustainability News December 2025 N.2
December 2025
Reseach Office: Sustainability news, Sustainability news 2025
News from Italy
Ravenna follows Copenhagen's lead, rewarding ‘responsible’ travellers
Ravenna has become the first Italian city to adopt Copenhagen’s sustainable tourism model, rewarding visitors for responsible behaviour. The Footprints project, supported by the European Urban Initiative, promotes soft mobility and deeper engagement with local communities, transforming visitors into temporary citizens.
Capri Obliqua brings cycle tourism to the island of Capri
Capri Obliqua has reimagined Capri as a destination for cycle tourism, encouraging a slower, more sustainable way of exploring the island. The initiative shows how cycling can help reduce seasonality while protecting the fragile ecosystems of smaller islands.
Mestre’s sculpture park blends art, inclusion and sustainability
The Banca Ifis Sculpture Park in Mestre welcomed more than 6,000 visitors in 2025, promoting social inclusion through art and sustainability. With works accessible via Braille and dedicated programmes for socially engaged groups, the park stands as a compelling example of slow, conscious tourism.
New journeys, new rhythms: opening talk of the fourth edition of Il Tempo del Viaggio
The fourth edition of Il Tempo del Viaggio explored sustainable tourism through the lens of people and place. The opening event highlighted the need to balance growth with environmental responsibility, showcasing innovation and culture through case studies, including Oulu, future European Capital of Culture.
Climate change: Lombardy updates its strategy for directing resources
The Lombardy region has revised its climate-change adaptation strategy to include measures that also support sustainable tourism. Initiatives such as cycle tourism routes and religious walking trails aim to reduce environmental impact while diversifying tourism and strengthening regional resilience.
Parco delle Groane signs the 2025 Parks Pact, strengthening ties between nature and communities
Parco delle Groane has signed the Patto dei Parchi 2025, an agreement promoting biodiversity protection and sustainable development. The initiative seeks to strengthen Lombardy’s park network, while fostering responsible tourism and sustainable practices, including the circular economy and high-quality agriculture.
Four new cycling routes approved for Umbria
Umbria has approved four new cycling route projects designed to support sustainable tourism and reduce seasonality. The routes, including the greenway along the former Gubbio railway and the Flaminia Cycle Route, aim to showcase the region's natural and cultural heritage while providing safe, accessible itineraries for cyclists and families alike.
A new approach to culture: renewed partnership among the Euganean Hills’ cultural landmarks
A renewed agreement between Casa del Petrarca, the Oratorio della Santissima Trinità and the Museo Nazionale Atestino promotes sustainable cultural tourism in the Euganean Hills. Part of the wider regeneration of the village of Arquà Petrarca, the initiative offers an integrated itinerary with discounted entry, enhancing local heritage and strengthening collaboration between national institutions and local organisations.
News from around the world
The Americas
Argentina
Colonia Carlos Pellegrini marks 102 years with UN Tourism award
UN Tourism has named the small Argentine village of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini one of the 2025 Best Tourism Villages, recognising its exemplary approach to sustainable development. The community, which relies largely on ecotourism, has successfully combined biodiversity protection with the preservation of local culture, turning the area into a global benchmark for responsible tourism.
Brazil
Latin America’s longest signposted trail opens
The Atlantic Amazon Trail, unveiled during COP30 in Belém, is now the longest marked trail in Latin America. Crossing 17 municipalities, the route offers a sustainable journey through forests, rivers and local communities, promoting environmental conservation while celebrating regional traditions.
Colombia
Nature, culture and well-being: how Colombians are changing the way they travel
Tourism in Colombia is shifting towards more meaningful and sustainable experiences, with growing interest in nature and local communities. Costa Rica has emerged as an ideal destination for responsible travel, thanks to its biodiversity and long-standing commitment to sustainable living.
Salinas del Rey raises the first Blue Flag in Colombia’s Atlántico Department
Salinas del Rey has been awarded Blue Flag status, officially recognising the beach as a safe and sustainable destination. This certification highlights progress in environmental protection, waste management and accessibility, reinforcing sustainable development and attracting more conscious travellers.
Asia
South Korea
Tongyeong Yeonhwa-do: a green revival transforms the island into an ecological paradise
Yeonhwa-do Island has been transformed into an eco-hub through landscape restoration projects and the development of ecological trails. With an investment of 1.137 billion won, 17,680 native trees have been planted and 22 hectares of footpaths redeveloped, supporting accessible and sustainable tourism.
India
SARAS Aajeevika Food Festival 2025 launches a new chapter for culinary tourism
The SARAS Aajeevika Food Festival 2025 shows how gastronomy can drive sustainable tourism by supporting rural economies and protecting cultural heritage. The festival offers immersive experiences that connect travellers with local communities, empowering small producers and encouraging more inclusive travel models.
Wildlife numbers in the Terai exceed 145,000 thanks to ecotourism investment
Wildlife populations in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh have increased significantly following an investment of 1.61 billion rupees in ecotourism. The initiative has improved habitats and infrastructure while involving local communities, strengthening conservation efforts across the region.
Europe
Sustainability supports tourism amid rising costs and changing trends
European tourism in 2025 is increasingly shaped by sustainable models, with growing demand for less crowded, off-season destinations. Travellers are seeking authentic, low-impact experiences, favouring nature-based and cultural destinations. Digital tools and AI are also playing a key role in planning personalised and responsible travel.
2025 Rail Tourism Awards celebrate the best campaigns for sustainable train travel
The 2025 Rail Tourism Awards highlighted the importance of rail travel in promoting sustainable tourism across Europe. Award-winning campaigns by Switzerland Tourism and Rail Europe, among others, emphasised rail’s role in reducing carbon emissions while enabling more authentic ways to explore the continent.
France
Website launches new 'tourism score' to tackle overtourism
In a bold move to address overtourism, a French website has introduced a new 'tourism score' to help identify cities and towns under pressure from excessive visitor numbers. This innovative initiative aims to help travellers make more informed choices while drawing attention to areas in urgent need of sustainable tourism strategies.
England
VisitBritain and Tourism Cares unveil the Meaningful Travel Map of England
VisitBritain and Tourism Cares have launched the Meaningful Travel Map of England, a platform showcasing travel experiences with positive social, cultural and environmental impacts. The map features over 30 English organisations committed to responsible tourism, helping conscious travellers connect with local communities.
Scandinavia
Slow tourism: the secret behind Scandinavia's success
Scandinavia is championing slow tourism as a way of life, celebrating silence and connection with nature. Initiatives such as Sweden’s campaign promoting the value of restorative boredom, alongside coastal trips with Hurtigruten and Havila in Norway, encourage travellers to view travel as a space for reflection and discovery.
Spain
La Mancha’s protected designations call for support for promotion and generational renewal
Protected designations of origin in La Mancha are calling for greater support to help transform cultural and gastronomic heritage into sustainable development. A recent forum stressed the need for integrated strategies combining protection, promotion and sustainable tourism, centred on local products and historic heritage.
Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue 2027: a journey between Saida and Córdoba
Saida and Córdoba have been named Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue 2027. The initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism through cultural enhancement and intercultural dialogue. The cities will host shared programmes, artistic residencies and themed travel itineraries, strengthening cooperation and sustainable development across the Mediterranean.
Oceania
Easter Island
Rapa Nui opens to the world to plan for the future of its ancestral heritage
The Rapa Nui Heritage Summit 2025 focuses on sustainability, bringing together indigenous leaders and experts to promote the conservation of the island's cultural and natural heritage. The event highlights the importance of indigenous leadership in sustainable resource management, addressing issues such as restoration and conservation in the face of climate change.
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Elaborata da Extreme Srl per Enit SpA