Active tourism is growing faster than many Protected Areas can manage. Demand for hiking, cycling, trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, canyoning, paddling, diving and outdoor events is increasing, yet many Protected Areas lack the staff, maintenance resources, mobility solutions, monitoring systems and visitor-management capacity needed to respond.

Social media, outdoor apps and car-based access can concentrate visitors in fragile locations, leading to informal trails, erosion, wildlife disturbance, parking pressure, conflicts with local residents and safety concerns.

The challenge is therefore no longer simply to manage visitor pressure—it is to rethink the relationship between people and nature.

Active tourism involves Protected-area Managers, municipalities, tourism boards, businesses, guides, clubs, federations, residents, landowners, event organisers and digital platforms. Without effective coordination, promotion can grow faster than responsibility.

This is where the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) offers a powerful framework. Through dialogue, shared governance and collective responsibility, it creates the conditions to plan and manage tourism more sustainably—while encouraging visitors to become active partners in conservation.

In this webinar, two experienced ECST specialists will share how they have built successful partnerships with the outdoor sports sector. We will explore the steps taken to protect and manage canyoning in Alta Garrotxa, as well as the value of working with guides and businesses accredited under the ECST. Through the example of the Medes Islands Marine Reserve, participants will discover management approaches and practical tools that help tourism businesses become active drivers of a more sustainable tourism model.