In 2025, the 30th anniversary of the historic World Charter for Sustainable Tourism, signed on the island of Lanzarote, will be commemorated. Coinciding with this anniversary, a participatory process is being launched, inviting citizens to contribute to updating the document with the goal of renewing the global commitment to a more sustainable, inclusive model of tourism aligned with today’s challenges.
The year 2025 is a very special one for sustainable tourism. It marks 30 years since the first World Charter for Sustainable Tourism was signed in Lanzarote, a pioneering document that set the course for more environmentally friendly tourism that respects culture and local communities.
Three decades later, the Government of the Canary Islands is promoting a participatory process to update the charter, adapting it to the major challenges of our time.
The main novelty of this update is its open and participatory nature. Through the Citizen Participation Portal of the Government of the Canary Islands, anyone interested—sector professionals, institutions, businesses, academics, travelers, or the general public—can share their opinions and suggestions on the principles and commitments the new charter should include.
This is a collective effort in which each participant’s voice will help define a global document that will be officially presented on November 28 in Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote, during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism.
Because tourism is a phenomenon that involves us all, not only as travelers but also as citizens and members of host communities. The new charter aims to be a living, shared commitment that guides the decisions of governments, destinations, businesses, and travelers toward a more balanced, responsible, and regenerative tourism model.
The more voices that participate in this process, the stronger and more representative the resulting charter will be from this historic anniversary.
Participating is very simple. You just need to access the online questionnaire and share your ideas:
[Access the participation form here]
Your contribution will be key in shaping the new World Charter for Sustainable Tourism 2025, a document that aspires to become the ethical and strategic compass for the next 30 years of global tourism.
It is no coincidence that this celebration takes place in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands. The island, recognized as a Biosphere Reserve since 1993, has always been an international benchmark in integrating tourism development with sustainability. In 1995 it was the birthplace of the original charter, and in 2025 it once again leads this renewal process with vision and commitment.
Updating the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism is much more than a commemorative act. It is an invitation to collectively envision the future of tourism we want and need.
That is why your voice matters.
From Biosphere, we encourage you to participate in this process and share it with your contacts and networks. Together we can build a more responsible, inclusive, and regenerative tourism industry, capable of meeting today’s challenges and becoming a force for balance and well-being for people and the planet.