Title – Name
Les 7 Cares Del-Pedraforca (The 7 Faces of Pedraforca)
Scope / Sector / Industry
Sustainable mountain tourism
Country / Region
Spain, Catalonia, Berbera
Why is it good practice?
“The 7 Faces of Pedraforca is an initiative developed by the Development Agency of Bergéda in Catalonia, Spain, to promote the Pedraforca Mountains as a sustainable destination for responsible visitors. The case of the development and promotion of tourism in the Pedraforca mountain range and the Bergereda region is a good example of sustainable management by the local authority, as a significant effort has been made to involve everyone (residents, businesses and visitors) in achieving this goal.
The Decalogue of the Responsible Visitor, promoted by the Bereda Development Agency, is in fact a reflection of the sustainability strategy adopted and the efforts and actions undertaken in the area to achieve this objective. In a nutshell, the Decalogue encourages visitors to
1) To interact with the local people.
2) Experience the local traditions, festivals and fairs of the region.
3) Use a local guide to learn more about the area in a safe way.
4) Taste the local cuisine and local products.
5) Visit the information centres, museums and other similar facilities.
6) Respectfully enjoy the fauna, flora and wildlife of the area.
7) Use their private vehicle sparingly.
8) To minimize the consumption of resources and leave the environment as they would like to find it.
9) Choose companies certified for their commitment to the environment.
10) Give back to the region some of the happiness it gave them during their stay.
How is it applied?
Bergea is a county in the central region of Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the greater Pyrenees region and its capital is the city of Berga. The Bergéda Development Agency is a public local development agency that implements actions for the benefit of citizens, entrepreneurs, visitors and new residents who wish to settle in the area. The organisation is committed to contributing to the development of a sustainable, social, cultural and economically strong region. In this context, the organisation carries out tourism development and promotion activities, promoting it as a destination with particularly natural landscapes where one can experience a sustainable and responsible journey in harmony with the environment.
In order to ensure the sustainable development of Bergea, the organisation has implemented a set of actions towards this goal.
Promotion of sustainable mobility:
The organisation encourages visitors to use their private vehicle wisely by providing them with easy access to information on the use of alternative modes of transport. Initially, and on arrival in the area, it suggests using public transport (buses). Alternatively, and in the case of villages where there is no regular bus service, the on-demand transport service has been created, whereby the visitor must book at least one day in advance.
Upon arrival, the visitor is offered transport on foot, by bicycle, on horseback and by public or collective means of transport.
- In the case of bicycle use, 12 cycling routes and more than 40 circular cycling routes are proposed. In addition, information is provided on where to charge e-bikes. To support similar activities, a built and maintained bicycle park has been created, open all year round, with flow paths, short and long jumps and tracks for all levels.
- In terms of walking, the organisation has developed and promotes a large network of paths, most of which are of medieval origin and historical importance. The trail network covers 2,000 km, with more than 70 hiking suggestions in the nature, connecting the villages of Bergea and most of it is signposted.
- As part of better and targeted hiking options, 18 routes are proposed for families and 6 routes for hiking longer days and longer distances. As for the hiking proposals for children, a mobile application has been created in the form of a game, which encourages children to explore 9 trails through a variety of activities. Upon completion of each trail, the child earns rewards and is entered into a draw to win prizes.
As part of promoting a sustainable destination for all, activities and spaces designed for people with reduced mobility, blindness, deafness, etc. have been provided. Information on the accessibility of each site visited is available on the official website, so that visitors are aware of the facilities available to them before their trip. Information on guides for people with disabilities is also provided and improvements are made to existing infrastructure.
Supporting local entrepreneurship:
As part of the promotion of hiking routes, the organisation promotes local hiking companies and other businesses active in active tourism (e.g. canoeing, horse riding, swimming, climbing, caving, rock climbing, paragliding, adventure parks, GPS-based treasure hunts (Geocaching), etc.).
It also supports the cultural heritage by promoting and providing information about the attractions (e.g. museums, monuments, religious and creative sites, industrial heritage, etc.) and other local cultural options of Bergea.
In addition, local gastronomy and products of the region are promoted. In this context, local recipes, local farmers’ markets and local producers are promoted, who offer a gastronomic experience ‘from field to plate’ with their guidance. A special initiative is that of seasonal cuisine, which takes the form of gastronomic days and campaigns, whereby selected local restaurants create specific dishes based on local seasonal products. In parallel, events and other promotional activities are being implemented.
Also, local accommodation businesses (hotels, camping, campsites, camping sites, motorhomes, rural accommodation, tourist residences, etc.) and catering services are promoted, with the possibility of evaluating their services. As part of its support for sustainable businesses, the organisation promotes businesses that are specifically certified in sustainability issues, indirectly encouraging visitors to choose them for their trip and encouraging businesses to implement sustainability policies.
Protecting the environment:
Since 2018, the Bergeda Development Agency has been supporting the selective collection of household waste (door-to-door). This collection guarantees that the materials left over from homes are given a new life and reintegrated, in a cycle of production of new products. As part of this initiative, visitors are required to support this effort by purchasing an access card to the enclosed areas in order to dispose of their waste. This card has a €1 deposit, which is refundable when the card is returned to the shop where it was purchased.
In addition, it has implemented a pilot action to reduce disposable waste from the picnic services offered by various establishments. In particular, establishments that have joined the initiative have replaced disposable picnic materials with reusable materials. In particular, they replaced disposable sandwich wrapping paper with cloth wrapping, while individual containers for nuts, biscuits, etc. were replaced by a small special lunch box.
In order to protect the environment, voluntary activities (e.g. cleaning roads, rivers, etc.) are suggested to visitors and existing volunteer organisations are promoted accordingly.
Where is it applied?
“The 7 faces of Pedraforca” is an initiative and a tourism proposal that is addressed to everyone. It is addressed directly to all those who want to visit the area and have a sustainable and responsible experience in the mountainous countryside and indirectly to the whole local community, inviting it to actively participate in supporting sustainability actions and implementing responsible tourism actions.
When did it applied?
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Results
In the context of the implementation of circular economy actions, Bergeda has managed to be the county with the highest rate of waste separation in Catalonia. In particular, 69.93% of the waste generated (from residential properties only) becomes new raw materials, while the average for Catalonia is 43.40%.
Other Information
As part of actions towards a sustainable tourism management, the Bergéda Development Agency has participated in several European projects such as Interreg-Med InCircle and EmbleMatiC.
Official site https://www.elbergueda.cat/
