Andalucía Champions Sustainable Tourism in Blue Economy at Sun&Blue 2025 and Women's Leadership Forum
Andalucía advances sustainable tourism and female leadership in maritime sectors, spearheading blue economy growth through strategic regional initiatives and collaborative forums.
- • Tourism contributes 70% of the blue economy's impact in Andalucía, as highlighted at Sun&Blue Congress 2025.
- • Andalucía leads 14 European community projects focused on sustainable tourism and climate adaptation.
- • The III Forum of Women Leaders in the Blue Economy in Cádiz focused on female entrepreneurship and science in maritime sectors.
- • Key initiatives include intelligent tourist flow management, connectivity strategies, and promotion of female role models in science and entrepreneurship.
Key details
Andalucía is reinforcing its position as a leader in the European blue economy through its focus on sustainable tourism and female leadership in maritime sectors. At the Sun&Blue Congress 2025 held in Almería, Yolanda de Aguilar, Secretary General for Tourism in Andalucía, highlighted tourism as the cornerstone of the region's blue economy, contributing 70% of its economic impact. She emphasized the need for a transformation in tourism that balances coastal and inland attractions with intelligent flow management. Aguilar stressed that sustainability and growth must be central, requiring long-term planning and regenerative models that promote quality, competitiveness, and innovation.
Andalucía's leadership is reflected in its involvement in 14 community projects across Europe that address sustainability, climate adaptation, flow management, and the promotion of sustainable tourism products. Among initiatives are strategies for connectivity, local sustainability observatories, and the Nexus project, all aimed at a balanced and stable tourism model.
Simultaneously, the III Forum of Women Leaders in the Blue Economy took place in Cádiz, focusing on empowering female entrepreneurs and researchers in the maritime economy. Organized largely by the University of Cádiz (UCA), the forum featured a roundtable on female entrepreneurship in blue economy sectors. Experts underscored challenges women face in leadership and the importance of science-driven sustainable decision-making. Panelists like Isabel Casal from UCA called for promoting scientific careers among girls by showcasing female role models. Marina Delgado highlighted marine research's role in climate adaptation and responsible resource management.
Institutional figures, including Teófila Martínez, president of the Port Authority of Cádiz, and government subdelegate Blanca Flores, emphasized the forum's role in establishing Cádiz as a national hub for female leadership in sustainability. Inmaculada Olivero closed the event by advocating the forum as a key platform to advance gender equality and nurture female talent in strategic sectors essential to Andalucía's development.
Together, these events illustrate Andalucía's holistic approach to fostering a sustainable blue economy where tourism innovation and gender equality in maritime sectors are pivotal pillars.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.