Spain unveils new SICTED programme focused on sustainable tourism - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism has presented the new SICTED programme, marking the 25th anniversary of the initiative with a renewed focus on sustainable and responsible tourism. The updated framework was introduced by Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez during the XVII SICTED Forum, attended by 180 tourism professionals from across Spain.

SICTED – which now stands for Sustainability, Intelligence and Tourism Quality in the Destination Ecosystem – evolves from a quality-focused programme into a broader model that integrates sustainability management and advanced technological tools. The initiative aims to strengthen destinations and tourism services while improving the visitor experience.

During the opening of the forum, Sánchez emphasized that the programme is entering “a new stage focused on a more sustainable tourism model in its three dimensions — economic, environmental and social — while maintaining quality as a key pillar of destination competitiveness.”

Programme strengthens destinations and small tourism businesses

The transformation of SICTED positions destinations and tourism services, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, at the centre of the tourism ecosystem. The updated programme introduces more flexible tools designed to better reflect the operational realities of companies working in the sector.

According to Sánchez, the reform represents more than a technical update. “The new SICTED is not only a technical upgrade; it represents a shift in approach that places sustainability, intelligence and responsibility at the heart of Spain’s tourism model.”

SICTED is a destination quality improvement programme promoted by the State Secretariat for Tourism (SETUR) with the support of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). It currently works with tourism services across up to 36 different professions, with the aim of improving the quality of services and visitor satisfaction.

At present, the programme includes 284 destinations, 10,463 participating tourism services and 7,961 businesses that have received the programme’s distinction.

New tools and identity for the SICTED programme

Funded through the European Union’s Next Generation funds as part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, the new SICTED integrates sustainability and tourism intelligence alongside traditional quality standards.

The programme also introduces a new visual identity and slogan: “Sustainability, intelligence and tourism quality in the destination ecosystem.” In addition, the distinction awarded to participating companies changes its name from “Quality Commitment” to “Responsible Tourism Commitment”, reflecting the sector’s commitment to positive environmental, social and economic impacts.

A new website has also been launched for the programme, integrating a management platform that uses artificial intelligence to support more efficient interaction. The platform includes compliance monitoring tools and customised dashboards designed to help destinations and businesses track their progress.

Methodology simplified to support continuous improvement

The implementation methodology has been updated to reduce administrative burdens while encouraging continuous improvement among participating businesses.

Among the main changes is an extension of the validity period of the SICTED distinction from two to three years. The programme’s best-practice manuals have also been aligned with the objectives of the Spain Tourism Strategy 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across social, economic and environmental dimensions.

In addition, the programme introduces a simplified self-assessment system aimed at making participation easier and more accessible for tourism businesses across Spain.

Image Credit: Government of Spain. Ministry of industry and tourism