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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

At Runner Bean Tours we are committed to responsible tourism. We are certified with the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle for Commitment to Sustainable Tourism. This is awarded to a few tour operators who are committed to responsible and environmentally-friendly management, culture, decent working conditions, gender equity and social and economic benefits.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), sustainable tourism is one that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

Barcelona Sustainable tourism

Thus, sustainable tourism should:

  1. Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
  2. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
  3. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

  • Takes into account the impact generated by tourism on the natural, cultural and human environment
  • Ensures an appropriate balance between benefits and costs
  • Generates local employment directly in the service sector
  • Stimulates the profitability of local domestic industries
  • Generates currency within the country and investment in the local economy
  • Diversifies the local economy, particularly in rural areas where agricultural employment may be sporadic and insufficient
  • Seeks understanding and decision-making among all social groups for their coexistence and use of their resources
  • It incorporates planning that ensures tourism development appropriate to the capacity of the ecosystem
  • Stimulates the improvement of local transport, communications and basic infrastructures
  • Offer activities that can be enjoyed by both the local community and tourists
  • Aids the preservation of historical and cultural heritage
  • On the one hand, it encourages the recovery of agricultural uses on marginal lands and, on the other, favours the maintenance of natural vegetation in large areas
  • Improves the self-esteem of the local population and the revaluation of their environment and their cultural characteristics
  • Provides an opportunity for greater communication and understanding between people from different backgrounds
  • Demonstrates the importance of natural and cultural resources to the economic and social well-being of the local community, and how the local community can help preserve them
  • Controls and assesses the impacts caused by tourism, develops reliable methods of environmental responsibility and counteracts the negative effects

Tips for a responsible traveler

WHAT IS BIOSPHERE BARCELONA STANDARD FOR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

The Biosphere Barcelona standard for Commitment to Sustainable Tourism is awarded to tour operators who are committed to responsible and environmentally-friendly management, to culture, to decent working conditions, to gender equity and to social and economic benefits.

This is based on a handbook of best practices that includes the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Company’s Responsible Tourism Policy.

RECENT POSTS

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  • Barcelona With Kids: Top 40 Things To Do
  • Free Things to do in Barcelona: The Complete Guide
  • Best Asian Food in Barcelona: The top restaurants
  • Top 60 Things To Do In Barcelona

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Wishing you the best 2023! The Runner Bean team Wishing you the best 2023!
The Runner Bean team
We wish you a Merry Christmas!!! Enjoy this time w We wish you a Merry Christmas!!! Enjoy this time with your loved ones 🎄❤️
The Runner Bean team
Last week we celebrated the Runner Bean Christmas Last week we celebrated the Runner Bean Christmas Dinner🍴🎄
We all had a great time and it was lovely seeing everyone together again 😄
As a surprise, we also got a very nice present from all the guides full of treats for the Christmas table 🎁😋. Thanks a million again 😘
In the photo (sitting from the left): Laura, Anna, Gorka, Albert, Miguel, Tati, Ann-Marie, Alex, Dani, Mari and Anna 🙋
#runnerbeantours #xmasdinnerparty
A castle with eggs on top? What else but the Dalí A castle with eggs on top? What else but the Dalí Museum! 🎨🖌️
Situated in the town of Figueres, just a couple of hours from Barcelona, this is one of our most popular private tours outside the city. A must if you are a Salvador Dalí fan 👌
More info on our bio.
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#dalimuseum #dali #tourguide #besttourguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetour #barcelonaprivatetour #barcelonaprivatetours #dalitours #salvadordali #barcelonaprivateguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetourbarcelona #privatetoursbarcelona #barcelonatravel #supportsmallbusiness #familycompany #localguide #localtours #runnerbeantours
Last weekend, we took all our photography equipmen Last weekend, we took all our photography equipment to capture unusual views of some of the highlights of Barcelona. 

These 4 images are just some of what we saw.

Below is the explanation of how we did it but... we also used a trick! Do you know which one? 😉

⛪ Sagrada Familia. Gaudí's unfinished work is the symbol of Barcelona. We captured the Nativity Façade in all its glory, without any construction cranes.

🏛️ Plaça Sant Jaume. We climbed to the top of the Generalitat Palace to get a bird's view of the iconic government's square.

⚓ Columbus Monument. We took the lift to the top for nice views of Barcelona and to try to emulate the work of famous Catalan photographer Francesc Català-Roca

🏰 La Pedrera & Casa Batlló. Both Gaudí buildings are located at Passeig de Gràcia. We used a very long telephoto to bring them closer to each other.
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#thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #barcelonacity #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatrip #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #barcelonagram #bestcitybreaks #barcelonalife #barcelonastravel @catalunyaenminiatura #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips #discoverbarcelona #gaudi #gaudihouse #architecture #gaudiarchitecture #beautifulbuildings #barcelonaarchitecture #gaudibarcelona #gaudisagradafamilia #gaudilovers
Corners of Barcelona. In the middle of the bustlin Corners of Barcelona. In the middle of the bustling city, you can still find these calm, green spots 🌿😌
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#barcelonacorners #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #barcelonacity #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatrip #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #ig_barcelona #barcelonagram #bestcitybreaks #barcelonalife #barcelonastravel #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips #discoverbarcelona
We had a great time with Ellen and Paula on their We had a great time with Ellen and Paula on their private Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Familia tour. Lovely ladies 😄
Thank you for booking with a local company 💪
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#barcelonatour
#gauditour #tourguide #besttourguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetour #barcelonaprivatetour #barcelonaprivatetours #sagradafamilia #sagradafamiliatour #barcelonaprivateguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetourbarcelona #privatetoursbarcelona #supportsmallbusiness #familycompany #localguide #localtours #runnerbeantours  #gaudibarcelona #gaudisagradafamilia #gaudi
Third and final part of our La Mercè 2022 reels. Third and final part of our La Mercè 2022 reels.
One of our guides sent us a video from the heart of the "correfoc". Are you brave enough to go in there? 🎇😱
#lamerce2022 #lamercè #correfoc #barcelonatraditions #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #barcelonacity #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #barcelonalife #barcelonaexperience #discoverbarcelona
🎊 The main parade is one of the highlights of L 🎊 The main parade is one of the highlights of La Mercè Festival. 
👸🤴 All the giants of every neighbourhood come out to dance for the delight of kids and adults alike.
😄 We definitely enjoyed it on this post-pandemic year, when it came back to the streets of the old city.
#lamercè #lamerce #lamerce2022 #giantsparade #barcelonafestival #barcelonalife #barcelonaforkids #thisisbarcelona #barcelonacity #barcelonaexperience #barcelonalovers #barcelonatodo #visitbarcelona
#lamerce2022 #barcelonafestival #lamercefestival # #lamerce2022 #barcelonafestival #lamercefestival #barcelonalife #thisisbarcelona #barcelonalovers #barcelona #barcelonacity #nextstopbarcelona #barcelonatrip #barcelonatodo #bcnlovers #visitbarcelona #barcelonagram #bestcitybreaks #barcelonastravel #barcelonaexperience #barcelonatips #discoverbarcelona
🚐 Having a local transport and chauffeur compan 🚐 Having a local transport and chauffeur company that is reliable is like finding gold.
🥇 We have been trusting Alex and his team for our private chauffered tours for a long time now and we couldn't be happier.
📷 Here he is, on the left, with Kriah, our customer today, and Dani, the guide, in the centre.
Thank you, Alex 😄
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#barcelonatour #chauffeuredtour #tourguide #besttourguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetour #barcelonaprivatetour #barcelonaprivatetours #sagradafamilia #sagradafamiliatour #barcelonaprivateguide #tourguidebarcelona #privatetourbarcelona #privatetoursbarcelona #barcelonatravel #supportsmallbusiness #familycompany #localguide #localtours #runnerbeantours
🏛️ Only 1.5 hours away from Barcelona, you ca 🏛️ Only 1.5 hours away from Barcelona, you can find the Greek and Roman city of Empúries.
🏺Founded in 575 BC and located in an incomparable setting with Mediterranean sea as a background, this is a must for for archaeology enthusiasts.
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#empuries #archaeology #ruins #catalonia #daytrips #discovercatalonia #cataloniaexperience #visitcatalonia #mediterranean #empúries #romans #greeks #romancity #greekcity #girona #catalunya #costabrava
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Copyright © Runner Bean Tours Barcelona 2010-2022
Address: Rambla del Poblenou, 56, 08005 Barcelona
Phone number (Mon to Fri, 9am to 1pm): 636 108 776
NIF (tax registration number): B66797051

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VISITING OTHER
CITIES IN EUROPE?


Why not check out if your next destination is one of our European partners. There are two main associations offering Free Waking Tours around Europe and we are a proud member of both. The cities involved in these two projects are hand-picked for their quality and commitment while preserving that special feeling that only a local company can give.

FIND LOTS OF GREAT TIPS ON OUR BLOG

What to do in Barcelona: The Complete Guide
How to skip the lines in Barcelona
Free Things to do in Barcelona
Things to do in Barcelona with Kids
Traditional food in Barcelona

WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Biosphere Barcelona standard for Commitment to Sustainable TourismWWC Safe Travels stamp

Runner Bean Tours is certified with the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle for Commitment to Sustainable Tourism. This is awarded to a few tour operators who are committed to responsible and environmentally-friendly management, culture, decent working conditions, gender equity and social and economic benefits. Certificate number: BAT 004/2022 RTI.

On our tours, we are always sure we respect the local neighbourhoods and we only collaborate with small Barcelona businesses which help support the local economy.

Runner Bean Tours also holds the WTTC SafeTravels Stamp. This was created for travellers to recognise destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the SafeTravels health and hygiene global standardised protocols.

Benefits of sustainable tourism

Have a positive impact in Barcelona

 

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