Biosphere Sites of Tourist Interest Certification

The future of sustainable tourism

What is the Biosphere Sites of Tourist Interest Certification?

Biosphere for sites of tourist interest is a certification of tourism sustainability, designed so that those spaces whose characteristics arouse interest, can improve their performance and reduce the negative impacts of the development of their activity, guaranteeing an adequate balance between the economic, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions. 

This category includes monuments, churches, mosques, chapels, physical spaces of tourist interest, statues and spaces and similar elements that generate tourist visits in the Destination. For all of them, the certification guarantees the fulfillment of requirements based on the principles of sustainability and continuous improvement, ensuring that certified Sites of Tourist Interest carry out new non-aggressive tourism models, satisfying the current needs of their customers and users without compromising future generations. The Biosphere Sites of Tourist Interest report significant benefits for themselves, the society and the environment.

Start certification for Sites of Tourist Interest 

Increase the conservation level

Receive tools, support, proposals and recommendations to design, manage and provide more sustainable visits, minimizing the negative impacts related to the conservation and degradation of resources, contributing to the preservation of its attractiveness over time.

Improve positioning

Consumers increasingly demand new non-aggressive tourism models. Position yourself as a sustainable hotel and communicate your commitment, with the Biosphere seal.

Reduce carbon footprint

As a Biosphere Member, you will receive tools and support to manage and reduce the environmental impact of your entity, improving its quality and image, reducing costs and contributing to the preservation of the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Biosphere Sustainable certification process aimed at?

The Biosphere Sustainable Platform is aimed at any company that interacts, directly or indirectly, with the tourism industry. In order to offer a comprehensive and personalised service, our system recognises more than 24 different types of companies, adapting the plans according to the specific characteristics of each one of them. This ensures that you can find the most suitable profile for your entity.

What is the audit process?

Si logras alcanzar un nivel óptimo de esfuerzos sostenibles evidenciados, que acrediten que estás trabajando por la sostenibilidad de manera integral, podrás optar a solicitar el proceso de auditoría. Una vez solicitado, en el transcurso de 7 a 15 días un auditor externo comprobará las evidencias subidas, determinará su validez y otorgará la certificación. Esta distinción reconocerá que los esfuerzos sostenibles que realiza la entidad y que han sido evidenciados están verificados por un proceso de certificación, garantizando así públicamente que la entidad se encuentra en un proceso de trabajo constante por la mejora continua y el desarrollo sostenible de su actividad.

How does the Biosphere Sustainable certification process work?

Instead of completing a static questionnaire, this innovative methodology provides the opportunity to develop customised Sustainability Plans through the selection of hundreds of sustainable activities and actions, linked to the 169 goals of the 2030 Agenda. You can even add new sustainable activities, which are tailored to your entity. This makes it a global and universal tool, designed to promote sustainability around the world. In addition, it can be done 100% online.

How do I renew my certification?

By maintaining the validity of your annual subscription, the renewal will be done automatically on an annual basis. After the first audit, which must be requested, subsequent renewals will enter a process of random audits where, without prior notice or request to be audited, an external auditor will check the validity of the evidence and the validity of the new evidence reported on the platform. In this way, if the random audit is not passed satisfactorily, the non-conformities must be corrected in order to maintain the validity of the certification.

What requirements must one meet to be certified?

The corresponding Biosphere Standard gathers the requirements an entity must meet to obtain the certification. This standard includes mandatory and voluntary requirements. The entity must comply with the first ones and interpret the second ones as continuous improvement objectives that should be achieved to become more sustainable.

How do I become certified?

By joining Biosphere Sustainable and starting to work on your sustainability plan you will earn your Committed badge, which will recognise your commitment to this first step towards sustainability. As you work on your Biosphere plan, assigning activities and evidencing them, you will progress towards being audited and earning your Certified badge. Try working at least a little on each SDG and make big strides on your progress bar.

What does the annual subscription to Biosphere Sustainable include?

El pago anual por la subscripción a la plataforma incluye el acceso total a las funcionalidades y servicios de la plataforma, incluidos el proceso de auditoría y de certificación. La suscripción anual te permitirá acceder en cualquier momento a tutoriales explicativos y a visualizar el catálogo de actividades y acciones para asignarlas a tu plan Biosphere. Además, si logras tus distinciones Committed y Certified, podrás descargar diferentes materiales de comunicación y difusión para que compartas en tiempo real tus esfuerzos y logros sostenibles con tus clientes, colaboradores y demás stakeholders.

Why should I certify my company?

Three consumer trends of 2020 are the preference for local products, alternatives to plastic and advocating for a carbon-free world. With Biosphere Sustainable, you can work on these three consumer trends and much more. By becoming Biosphere certified, you can position yourself as a leading company offering sustainable experiences and activities by communicating your commitment with our Biosphere label.