The side event, entitled “Advancing Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean – Towards the MED Blue Tourism Flagship Initiative,” will present the main results and lessons learned from actions implemented in Morocco (Al Hoceima National Park), Tunisia (Djerba Island), and Lebanon (Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Palm Islands Nature Reserve, and the Anfeh saltpans). The session will showcase how the initiative has supported improved visitor management in sensitive coastal areas, the creation of local ecotourism governance structures, capacity building for tourism operators, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into hospitality practices. Building on these results, the event will explore the transition from project implementation to long-term impact through the Mediterranean Blue Tourism Flagship Initiative, part of the 2026–2035 Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) under the Barcelona Convention.
Date: 17 June 2026 from 17.30 to 19 pm CEST.
Location: Auditorium Pati Manning, Barcelona, Spain.