Sierra de las Nieves Becomes the First “Soy Ecoturista” Certified Destination in the Province of Málaga

Sierra de las Nieves Becomes the First “Soy Ecoturista” Certified Destination in the Province of Málaga

Last week, the Association of Municipalities of Sierra de las Nieves hosted a ceremony to present nine companies in the region with certificates of membership in “Soy Ecoturista,” the brand of the Ecotourism Product Club in Spain, following a six-month evaluation process, at a ceremony that included the presentation of the destination’s new regional brand.

The Sierra de las Nieves thus becomes the first accredited ecotourism destination in the province of Málaga and the seventh in Andalusia to join this national ecotourism network, supported by the State Secretariat of Tourism. The event took place at 7:30 p.m. at the Mancomunidad headquarters in Paraje Las Millanas, Tolox.

The president of the Association of Municipalities and mayor of Istán, José Miguel Marín, emphasized at the event that “this accreditation is not only a recognition of these nine companies, but also a statement of intent for the entire region: the Sierra de las Nieves is committed to a form of tourism that preserves our environment, creates quality jobs, and showcases who we are.” Marín emphasized that this initiative is part of the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan, funded 100% by Next Generation EU funds, “as one of its priority actions to consolidate the Sierra de las Nieves as a national leader in ecotourism.”

For her part, Amanda Guzmán, manager of the Spanish Ecotourism Association (AEE), welcomed the destination’s inclusion, noting that the “Soy Ecoturista” network now includes 57 destinations and nearly 900 companies across 13 autonomous communities, and that the Sierra de las Nieves brings “unique natural assets that have received the highest recognition—as a National Park and a World Biosphere Reserve—along with a firm commitment to conservation and sustainable development.” Guzmán emphasized that, although the formal membership process is now complete, “this is really just the beginning—a starting point for a collaborative effort that requires the involvement of everyone, including public administrations and businesses, to position the Sierra de las Nieves as an ecotourism destination both nationally and internationally.”

With this membership, the Sierra de las Nieves joins the https://soyecoturista.com/es/destino-sierra-de-las-nieves platform, a national showcase for accredited ecotourism, and its businesses gain access to joint promotional campaigns, industry trade shows, and marketing tools targeted at high-value visitors who are committed to nature and local development. The Association of Municipalities acts as the destination’s local managing body within the product club, representing the businesses before the AEE and ensuring the proper use of the “Soy Ecoturista” brand throughout the region.

The event took place in three phases. Prior to the award ceremony, the nine member companies held a working meeting with Amanda Guzmán, manager of the Spanish Ecotourism Association (AEE), under the theme “What’s Next?”, aimed at charting a joint path for promotion and marketing as a certified destination. Next, the new regional brand for the Sierra de las Nieves was unveiled, developed as part of the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD). The certificate presentation ceremony was presided over by José Miguel Marín, president of the Association of Municipalities and mayor of Istán, alongside Tomás Rueda, coordinator of the Sierra de las Nieves Biosphere Reserve; Amanda Guzmán, manager of the AEE; and the mayors of the region.

The nine certified businesses represent a wide variety of the region’s tourism offerings: five lodging establishments—Casa Rural del Río (Alozaina), Málaga Sierra de las Nieves by Real Spain Hotels (Casarabonela), Hotel La Casa Grande del Burgo (El Burgo), Casa Mox (Yunquera), and Hotel Cerro de Híjar (Tolox)—; one accommodation and activities provider—Algaba de Ronda (Ronda)—; two activity providers—Aventúrate en Sierra de las Nieves (Tolox) and Actividades en Sierra de las Nieves (Parauta)—; and one restaurant—Restaurante Raíces (Istán)—. All have successfully completed a six-month advisory and verification process.

With this milestone, the Sierra de las Nieves—a National Park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—reaffirms its commitment to a tourism model that places the conservation of its natural heritage and the well-being of its eight municipalities at the heart of every decision.