We participated in the closing ceremony of the European I-STARS Project, a €1.25 million initiative co-financed by the EU.
The final day, held at the Chamber of Commerce, featured a programme that analysed the future of sustainable tourism. The event was jointly opened by María Frontera, Chair of the Tourism Commission of Cambra Mallorca, and Marco Táboas, Island Director of Demand and Hospitality and Vice-President of the FRTM, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in sustainability.
The European perspective of the project was presented by Alan Vella (Representative, EISMEA) and Demetra Palaonda, I-STARS Project Coordinator and technician at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, who shared the overall results of the initiative.
The event was enriched by the valuable perspectives of international and local experts, including Luigi Cabrini from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Dr Maurici Ruíz, professor in the Department of Geography and director of the Geotechnologies Centre at the University of the Balearic Islands, and Catalina Bibiloni from NexBiolinea.
One of the highlights was the Round Table, which focused on businesses. This space allowed beneficiary SMEs to share their experiences first-hand and explain how they are implementing sustainability in their businesses.
Finally, the Minister of Tourism of the Council of Mallorca, José Marcial Rodríguez, was responsible for closing the event, reinforcing the need for the transition to a more resilient and responsible tourism model.
The I-STARS project has succeeded in supporting 125 tourism SMEs in Europe, 17 of which are from Mallorca, demonstrating that direct collaboration is the key to a stronger and more responsible future.