Circular Economy Strategy for the Tourism Sector
of the Valencian Community

This project seeks to push the Circular Economy in the Tourism Industry by transferring results and incorporating eco-innovations and circular economy actions in terms of product and process, business model or organizational practices.

To this end, activities have been carried out jointly with critical agents in the Region of Valencia with the dual aim of, on the one hand, auditing the needs of the sector and detecting the potential for improvement in favour of sustainability through the involvement of the different stakeholders involved and, on the other hand, analyzing the results of research for the development and incorporation of eco-innovative technologies and methodologies in these fields of improvement, thus connecting the sector with R&D&I. Finally, the objective of the Network has been the wide dissemination and implementation of the proposed eco-innovations in the tourism sector of the Valencian Region.

Objectives and Outcomes

SO1

Preparation of a dynamic map of the circular economy in the tourism and related sectors that represents the agents involved and the interaction between companies with other organizations.

SO2

Prepare a catalog of good practices with eco-innovative technologies and results of interest to the tourism sector and promote its dissemination to it.

SO3

Creation of a collaboration platform to stimulate cooperation between the different agents of the Valencian Community.
Informe de necesidades del sector turístico para la transición a la economía circular

SO4

Transición del sector turístico a la economía circular. Necesidades, retos y mejoras

SO5

Preparation of a methodology and adaptation of sectorial indicators for the promotion of Circular Economy models through the incorporation of eco-innovations in the tourism sector and their assessment of cost terms and impact on the environmental footprint. 

SO6

Promotion and adaptation of a diagnostic tool that supports the implementation of an eco-circularity label that measures the environmental footprint for companies in the tourism sector, thus establishing the bases for promoting a regional label or certification.

OE7

Circular Economy Strategy for the Tourism Sector of the Valencian Community

OE8

Attracting resources by stimulating the joint participation of entities of the Valencian Community in R+D+i projects and calls for public programs to finance R+D+i on Circular Economy, both national and international.

OE9

Support companies in the implementation of circular economy models through consultancy and training services.

Working plan


Activity description


START


END


COMPLETED


0


Constitution and launch of the Platform and presentation of the initiative


Julio’21


Nov’21


COMPLETED


1


Generation of key information


Nov’21


Dic’21


COMPLETED


2


Preparation of a dynamic map of the Circular Economy


Ene’22<


Feb’22


COMPLETED

3


Proposal for a diagnostic tool in Circular Economy


Feb’22


Mar’23


COMPLETED

4


Preparation of the document "Strategy for the implementation of the Circular Economy in the Tourism Sector of the Valencian Community"


Mar’23


Sept’23


COMPLETED

5


Planning future activities of the Circular Economy Platform


Sept’23


Sept’23


COMPLETED

6


Dissemination and transfer support activities


Jul’21


Sept’23


COMPLETED

PARTNERS

Universities

Nada
Universitat Politècnica de València

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) is one of the leading universities in Spain, and it is the only Spanish technical university that appears in all the main international university rankings. The UPV is a national leader in terms of the creation of startups and incomes from patent licenses. In addition, the UPV actively participates in international research programs and is among the top ten Spanish institutions in terms of European Framework Programs for Research and Technological Development, with more than 123 projects financed during FP7, and currently having 196 projects financed by Horizon 2020 (November 2021). In addition, the UPV is also a partner in several important association initiatives (JTI, PPP, CCI, etc.). The UPV obtained the Campus of International Excellence seal - the highest recognition granted by the Spanish Ministry of Education - on two occasions.

Furthermore, the UPV is a leading actor in the Technology-Business-Art sector. More than being a reference in the scientific and technical fields, it combines in a single campus a Faculty of Fine Arts and a Faculty of Management and Business Administration.


Marival Segarra Oña

Principal Researcher of the Innoecotur project.
Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València and Vice-rector for Studies Organization, Quality, Accreditation and Languages.
Expert in eco-innovation and business competitiveness.
PhD and Bachelor in Industrial Engineering.


Ángel Peiro Signes

Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València.
Expert in operations management and eco-innovation.
Bachelor in Industrial Engineering and PhD in Management and Business Administration.


Virginia Santamarina

Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València and Coordinator of the Research Microcluster Cultural and Creative Industries, Tourism & Tech.
Expert in sustainable management of cultural, intangible and natural heritage, and in the design of sustainable tourism strategies for landscapes and creative cities.
Master in Internet and Intranet Programming, PhD in Conservation and Restoration of Historic-Artistic Heritage and Advanced RPAS Pilot Degree.


María de Miguel Molina

Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València.

Expert in Public Strategy and Policies.
Master in Law and PhD in Management and Business Administration.


Blanca de Miguel Molina 

Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València. 

Expert in Strategy and Business Models. 
Master in Economics and PhD in Management and Business Administration. 

 


Conrado Enrique Carrascosa López 

Assistant Professor (Doctor) at the Universitat Politècnica de València. 

Expert in sustainability applied to industries and in cultural management and music.
Musician, Industrial Engineer, Master in Business, Product and Service Management, PhD in Management and Business Administration. 


José Albors Garrigós

Emeritus Professor, Universitat Politècnica de València.

Expert in Innovation, Technology and Knowledge Management.

PhD in Industrial Engineering, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.


Mª Ángeles Carabal Montagud

Associate Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València.
PhD in Conservation and Restoration of Historic-Artistic Heritage.
Expert in the design of sustainable tourism strategies for cultural and immaterial heritage.
Musician, Master in Conservation and Restoration of Historic-Artistic Heritage and Advanced RPAS Pilot Degree.


Lluís Miret Pastor

Associate Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València and Academic Director of the Degree in Tourism at the UPV.

Expert in tourism, fishing and natural resource management.

Master in Economics and PhD in Management and Business Administration.


Gabriela Ribes Giner

Associate Professor in Universitat Politècnica de València and Director at the Department of Management.
Expert in Human Resources Management and Technological Entrepreneurship.
Industrial Engineer, PhD in Management.


Mª Rosario Perelló Marín

Associate Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València.

Expert in technological innovation management and human resources.
Industrial Engineering, MBA, PhD in Management and Business Administration.


Daniel Catalá Pérez

Assistant Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València.
Expert in Public Strategy and public-private partnerships.
Bachelor in Management and Public Administration, PhD in Management and Business Administration.


Yolanda Trujillo Adriá

PhD student at Universitat Politècnica de València.

Expert in collaborative innovation and circular economy in the transport sector.
Aerospace Engineer, Master in Business, Product and Service Management.


Joaquín Sánchez Planelles

PhD student at Universitat Politècnica de València.
Expert in sustainable business models.
Consulting in company sustainability.


M. Belén Silva

Master in Administration Science, Business Engineer, Bachelor in Marketing and Sales, Master in Business, Product and Service Management.

Expert in Marketing, Circular Economy and Sustainability.

Universitat de València

The University of Valencia, founded in 1499 under the name of General Studies, is one of the oldest universities in Spain. It is a public university, oriented towards teaching and research in almost all areas of knowledge. 

Its mission is to train competent professionals in the European field and to promote prestigious research with international impact that contributes to the development of our society. Training and research promote the tasks it also carries out in disseminating science and culture and reaffirming the democratic values of society in general and of Valencia in particular. 


 

Francisco Puig Blanco.

Full Professor in Universitat de València.

Expert in Strategy, Clustering and International Business.
Master in Economics and Business Sciences, PhD in Management.


Santiago Cantarero Sanz.

Associate Professor in the Department of Management at the Universitat de València.

Expert in organizational issues, human resources and territory. Member of the Research Group GESTOR (Organizational Geostrategy: Clusters and Competitiveness).

Collaborator of the Innoecotur project at the Universitat de València.


Isabel Pla-Julián.

Professor at Universitat de València.

Expert Consultant in Care Economy and Sustainability for the European Commission and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

Director of the Feminist Economics Research Unit and Coordinator of the Gender, Social Sustainability and ICT Research Microcluster.

Collaborator of the Innoecotur project at Universitat de València.

 

Guillermo Navarro-Sanfelix.

PhD in Business Management from the Universitat de València.

Expert in entrepreneurship, business models and SMEs.

Member of the Research Group GESTOR Research Group (Organizational Geostrategy: Clusters and Competitiveness).

Collaborator of the Innoecotur project at Universitat de València.

Universidad de Alicante
The University of Alicante was created in October 1979 on the Center for University Studies (CEU) structure, which had begun to function in 1968. Alicante recovered, in this way, the university studies suspended in 1834.

The University of Alicante is an open, responsible and transparent university that strategically relies on Information Technologies (IT), encouraging the participation and reuse of open data (Open.Data).

Bartolomé Marco Lajara.

Full Professor at Universidad de Alicante.
Expert in Strategic Tourism Industry Management
Degree and PhD in Economics and Business Administration

Universitat Jaume I

The Universitat Jaume I is a young university whose mission is to advance knowledge by developing quality research that reaches society and can attract research talent and external funding. Since 1991, the Universitat Jaume I has demonstrated a reputation for seriousness and scientific relevance that has led it to rank in the 601-700 range among the best universities in the world, according to the 2020 Shanghai ranking, and also in the selective group of 200 best young universities in the world, according to the Young University Ranking 2021 by Times Higher Education (THE).

In addition, the Scientific, Technological and Business Park of the Universitat Jaume I constitutes a unique environment that allows interaction between companies and research groups, promoting knowledge transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship programs.

 

Teresa Martínez Fernández

Full Professor at Universitat Jaume I.
Expert in Social Capital, Clusters, Industrial Districts, Innovation and the Ceramic Sector.

Master in Economics and Business Sciences, Business Branch, and PhD in Business Administration (Universitat Jaume I)

Xavier Molina Morales

Full Professor at Universitat Jaume I.

Expert in Social Capital, Clusters and Innovation.

Master in Economics and Business Sciences (UV), MBA Maastricht School of management (MSM); and PhD in Business Administration (Universitat Jaume I)

Luis Martínez Cháfer

Associate Professor at Universitat Jaume I.

Expert in Innovation, Social Capital and Industrial Districts.
Chemical Engineer, PhD in Business Administration.

PARTNERS

Institutes

Nada
Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologías Turísticas
The Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies (Invat tur) is a centre conceived as a meeting platform for all agents of the tourism sector. It represents one of the main axes in improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism model of the Valencian Community through the development of R+D+i projects and the adaptation to new trends in the tourism market in all its aspects.

Mario Villar García

Director of Tourism Intelligence at Turisme Comunitat Valenciana in Generalitat Valenciana

Invat tur - Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies

CONTRIBUTORS

Universities

Nada
Universidad de Málaga
The University of Malaga has a Faculty of Tourism created in 1997, which provides official undergraduate studies (Bachelor's Degree in Tourism and Bachelor's Degree in Gastronomic Sciences and Hotel Management) and postgraduate studies (Master's in Tourism Management and Planning, Master's in Electronic Tourism and PhD). Likewise, the demands of the economic and social environment have led the centre to complete its teaching offer with several of its degrees that open a range of specialization possibilities, both to students and to all those professionals interested in completing or expanding their training (wine tourism, heritage, golf, hotels, languages, conflicts, etc.). It should be noted that the Faculty has more than 20 years of experience, and in 2015, it was awarded the "Andalusia Tourism Award" in the training and research modality.
Universidad de Castilla La Mancha
The contributions of the University of Castilla-La Mancha in the tourism sector act in two directions: on the one hand, the Institution has provided the appropriate means for its teaching staff to acquire multidisciplinary training in the tourism sector and, on the other, specialized academic training in the tourism field is being guaranteed through the Degree in Tourism and the University Master's Degree in Tourism Business Management, which is taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Cuenca, since the 2018/19 academic year. Its Bachelor's and Master's degrees guarantee updated, complete, transversal and multidisciplinary training, which increases the possibilities of employment and entrepreneurship for our future graduates.

Furthermore, the University of Castilla-La Mancha has a Chair of Circular Economy that aims to promote knowledge and dissemination of the Circular Economy, as well as the promotion of teaching, research and dissemination activities that study the reality, problems and perspectives of the circular economy, from all the points of view that are considered relevant in the field of Sustainability in general, taking care of developing training programs and research tasks that contribute to improving training in these matters among the students, graduates of the University of Castilla La Mancha, the industry of Castilla-La Mancha as well as the rest of the research and training ecosystem in the region.

Universidad de Sevilla
The University of Seville, through the Faculty of Tourism and Finance, teaches the Degree in Tourism, the University Master's Degree in Tourism Management and Planning and the Doctorate in Tourism, which enables people to carry out management tasks both in tourism companies and in organizations and institutions that work in the planning and promotion of tourism. In addition, the center offers a Master in Hotel Management, specialist courses in Management and Marketing of tourist accommodation (online); and Administration, Legal management and quality in tourist accommodation (on line).

CONTRIBUTORS

Associations

Nada
FOTUR Federación Ocio, Turismo y Juego de la CV
The Federation of Leisure, Tourism, Gaming, Recreational Activities and Related Industries of the Valencian Community (FOTUR) was created to represent all companies, professionals and activities dedicated to the leisure and tourism industry.

For all these reasons, FOTUR is a platform for business unions, for the dismissal of the problems of the industry, for the search for solutions, and for the empowerment of the qualities of professionals and business people because only with the business union, the adaptation and constant improvement of our establishments and professionals will guarantee us a policy based on quality where the user/consumer must be the beneficiary. The business experience and the capacity to manage public events in each field of leisure and tourism come together around a platform, FOTUR, to work together, not to compete, but to strengthen a sector in continuous growth in the Community such as that of leisure and tourism.

APEHA Asociación provincial de empresarios de hostelería de Alicante
The Hospitality Employers of Alicante and province was created in 1979 to defend the interests of hospitality entrepreneurs in the province of Alicante. The Provincial Association of Hospitality Entrepreneurs of Alicante, APEHA, already serving as a Federation, merged at the end of 2020 to be also FEHPA Alicante Province Hospitality Business Federation.

Its primary objective is to defend the interests of business people in this sector. In order to get the opinion of hospitality entrepreneurs to reach the institutions with force, the business group must bring together the most significant number of companies. As a member of the Association/Federation, all entrepreneurs have the right to benefit from the services they provide and to participate in the projects that the Association/Federation has underway.

VISIT BENIDORM o Fundación Turismo de Benidorm de la Comunidad Valenciana
Benidorm is the leading tourist destination in the Mediterranean. The management and promotion of tourism in Benidorm, previously a responsibility of the City Council, now adapts to a new tourism model of transversal management with the involvement of the administration and the private sector for sustainable and transparent management.

In 2010, the Fundación Visit Benidorm of the Valencian Community was founded; known by its commercial name, Visit Benidorm, consists of a mixed public-private entity that allows responding to the new management paradigms of the promotion in an efficient, agile and updated way.

A non-profit entity is constituted under the tutelage of the Protectorate exercised by the Generalitat Valenciana through its competent body.

GRUPO INTUR
Intur Restauración Colectiva is a team of nutrition professionals prepared to effectively manage the activity and logistics of school, company and hospital canteens. It has more than 50 years of experience in the comprehensive management of dining rooms. Its main objective is the constant excellence in service, in the social commitment that supposes eating in a healthy and balanced way, and with specialized and continuous treatment.

Grupo Gimeno arises from more than 30 companies operating throughout the national territory, serving more than 2 million people daily. Their motivation is to continue growing as a group through customer loyalty.

Their long experience allows them to apply a management model that guarantees the coverage of all the needs of our clients, coining as their own the guarantee, safety and quality.