SICTED: Sustainability, Intelligence, and Tourism Quality in the Destination Ecosystem
What is the SICTED Project?
It is a nationwide initiative promoted by the State Secretariat for Tourism to improve the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector based on sustainability and tourism quality criteria.
SICTED proposes a guidance and support model for stakeholders within a tourist destination to implement best practices. These practices focus on social, economic, and environmental sustainability, as well as quality, as the strategic pillars of their development.
Public-private collaboration is the essential core for successfully implementing SICTED. Furthermore, the project includes an award that recognizes the commitment and hard work of companies that champion sustainability and tourism excellence.
SICTED in Valencia
In our destination, the management entity responsible for coordinating and promoting the project is the Visit València Foundation. This is done in collaboration with the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Navigation, through Turisme Comunitat Valenciana—the body that, in turn, promotes SICTED at the regional level.
The city of Valencia's experience as a SICTED tourist destination has developed in two stages: the first between 2004 and 2008, and the current one, which began at the end of 2013. Over the years, the SICTED methodology and tools have been updated according to market trends and needs. The latest update took place in 2026, placing greater emphasis on the concept of responsible tourism.
Requirements for Joining SICTED Valencia
✓ Preferably, be a protective partner of the Visit València Foundation.
✓ Carry out the business activity within the municipality of Valencia.
✓ Belong to one of the sectors recognized by the SICTED methodology that possesses a best practices manual and is not expressly excluded from the model.
✓ Comply with current applicable legislation, being prepared to provide the necessary documentation and sign a statement of compliance.
✓ Have the necessary resources to dedicate time to fulfilling the requirements and, in general, all aspects established in the SICTED Membership Protocol.
Commitments to the Award Process and Continuous Improvement
Following an initial membership phase and a second phase—lasting approximately one year until the award is achieved—consecutive three-year cycles take place, during which the business will develop its improvement and evolution.
During each implementation phase, tourism services must meet a series of commitments that guarantee their continuous improvement. The SICTED Manager, along with SICTED Advisors and Evaluators, is responsible for supporting and guiding them through this process.
In general terms, the SICTED commitments are as follows:
✓ Continuous Training
This is a mandatory annual commitment that can be completed online through the SICTED Campus and the Campus Abierto de Anfitriones (Hosts Open Campus) training program.
✓ Technical Advisories
Organized by the destination, their purpose is to advise participants, making it easier for tourism services to comply with best practices and program commitments. These can be individualized (ATI) and/or collective (ATC).
✓ Self-Assessment
A tool that allows the tourism service to analyze its degree of compliance with the best practices outlined in the corresponding manual, and to plan the necessary actions to ensure compliance.
✓ Improvement Plan
A document that defines the objectives and actions to be developed in the following years, serving as the foundation for the continuous improvement process.
✓ Destination Improvement Working Groups and Projects
Organized by the destination, these are collaborative workspaces for tourism stakeholders aimed at improving specific aspects of the destination.
✓ External Evaluation
An independent and objective process that verifies compliance with the requirements established in the Best Practices Manual for obtaining, monitoring, and renewing the SICTED award.
Once the evaluation is completed, the corresponding report is submitted anonymously to the SICTED Valencia Board (Mesa SICTED Valencia), which is composed of regional and local government technicians, as well as representatives from the local business sector. Subsequently, these reports are presented to the Award Committee of the State Secretariat for Tourism, the body responsible for granting or denying the award.
✓ Compliance with the SICTED Brand and Logo Usage Manual
Upon obtaining or renewing the award, and during the monitoring phases, the tourism service commits to correctly using the SICTED visual elements and badges in accordance with the brand manual guidelines.
