Sustainability and coexistence: the pillars of Mallorca's new tourism

A concept that goes far beyond the local sphere and connects with the international guidelines promoted by the World Tourism Organization (now UN Tourism). Responsible tourism is based on minimising the sector's negative impacts and maximising its social and economic benefits. It means travellers are aware of their footprint and that businesses and governments implement sustainable practices. UN Tourism leads the promotion of this model and works in favour of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recently, UN Tourism has recognised the Mallorca Responsible Tourism Foundation with the UN Tourism QUEST certification, an international seal that assesses excellence in destination management. This recognition places the FTRM as a benchmark in the implementation of responsible tourism policies, aligning its actions with the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting a model that minimises negative impacts and generates social and economic benefits. The certification reflects how cooperation between local bodies and UN Tourism can transform tourism management, making the global principles of sustainability translate into concrete results.

In line with these global principles, the FTRM faces this new stage with the mission of harnessing the benefits of tourism to guarantee the sustainability of the activity, ensure coexistence on the island and ensure Mallorca remains a wonderful place to live and to visit. Thus, tourism ceases to be conceived solely as a promotional tool and becomes a tool for awareness-raising, a collective project to balance visitors, community and environment.

Every journey needs a map. In the case of the FTRM, that guide is called Bitácora, a strategy that sets the course for the foundation's actions. This framework guides campaigns, projects and collaborations that seek to promote responsible attitudes among both residents and visitors. It reflects an updated vision of tourism, where environmental sustainability, social coexistence and cultural respect are the three inseparable pillars that uphold the island's new identity

From this new philosophy comes “Mallorca, Ca Nostra”, a brand that goes beyond a slogan to become a declaration of belonging and commitment. For those who live on the island, “Ca Nostra”, which in Mallorcan means “our home”, is an affirmation of identity and pride, for those who visit the island. It represents the promise of a destination that welcomes warmly but also invites you to care for and respect its essence. It is a message of shared hospitality, where everyone, residents and tourists, plays an active part in conserving the Mallorcan soul.

The spirit of “Mallorca, Ca Nostra” takes shape in a concrete action: the Pledge for Responsible Tourism, a commitment that invites residents and visitors to join in building a more conscious future. Through this project, accessible at pledge.fundaciomallorcaturisme.net, the FTRM drives a collective movement that goes beyond institutional communication to become a real experience. The Pledge proposes a different way to travel and coexist: to enjoy Mallorca without leaving a trace, respect its nature, support its communities and act with the sensitivity of someone who knows they are visiting a unique place.

The message is as simple as it is powerful: Mallorca will be our home for a while; let's take care of it. From there, the commitment translates into concrete actions: picking up litter, respecting ecosystems, using sustainable transport, supporting local consumption, protecting marine life and maintaining a respectful relationship with residents. Every gesture counts, and each person who signs the Pledge accepts the responsibility to protect the island, not just admire it.

This commitment is the soul of the FTRM's new stage. It is not a symbolic document, but an invitation to engage actively in change. The Pledge turns awareness into action and sustainability into a shared experience. Visitors assume the responsibility of protecting what they enjoy, while residents reaffirm their commitment to share the island with respect. Together, they reinforce the idea that enjoying and preserving are not opposing goals but the path towards a more human and balanced tourism.

The strength of the Pledge lies in its simplicity. With direct, relatable language, the FTRM turns the message of sustainability into an accessible and universal commitment. Thus, responsible tourism ceases to be an abstract concept and becomes a daily, tangible practice that begins with small gestures and culminates in a great collective transformation.

The foundation, supported by the Consell de Mallorca, also promotes cooperation with the tourism sector to strengthen the island's presence in international markets through a more ethical and sustainable approach. Its actions include the implementation of responsible tourism products, the promotion of local consumption, the promotion of cinema and culture as tools for international visibility, and data management that enables planning with knowledge and transparency. All of this with a cross-cutting objective: to achieve a balance between prosperity, respect and the future.

In that sense, the Pledge is the clearest expression of the change that the FTRM is driving: moving from theory to action, from promotion to commitment, from visitors to temporary citizens. Through it, Mallorca becomes an international benchmark for coexistence and sustainability, demonstrating that tourism leadership can go hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility.

The challenge is great but the reward is even greater. By opting for a tourism model based on shared responsibility, Mallorca shows that we can reconcile economic well-being with the protection of the natural and social environment. Each initiative of the FTRM helps ensure the island remains synonymous with quality, authenticity and beauty. And each person who joins the Pledge, both citizens and occasional visitors, becomes part of a shared story: that of an island that evolves without losing its essence.

So summer 2025 will not only be remembered as the start of a new institutional phase but as the beginning of a profound transformation in how we coexist with the island. With the Pledge as its standard, the FTRM sets out a call to action that appeals to emotion, common sense and the pride of belonging to a unique place. The island of tomorrow is already here and its greatest wealth is not only its landscape but the awareness of those who live on it and visit it.