Sun&Blue Congress opens its third edition in Almería

This morning, the Cabo de Gata – Ciudad de Almería Exhibition and Congress Center hosted the official opening of the third edition of Sun&Blue Congress, the largest international forum on tourism and the blue economy held in Europe.

With more than 120 international speakers and 37 countries represented, including senior institutional representatives from the Government of Mozambique, this edition reinforces its international character and its role as a strategic platform for advancing sustainable, innovative tourism models linked to the sea.

Europe singles out Almería as a blue benchmark

Representing the European Commission was Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, who highlighted the value of the Mediterranean as “Europe's natural treasure and economic engine,” and cited Almería as an example of sustainable water management, with 35 Blue Flag beaches and “an extraordinary commitment to the reuse of water resources and the protection of coastal ecosystems.” He announced that in April 2026 the Commission will present the first European Tourism Strategy, which will address sustainability, digitalization, territorial regeneration, and local well-being: “We will work with destinations such as Almería to build a European tourism model that empowers communities and strengthens Europe's global leadership.”

Andalusia strengthens its leadership in the blue economy

The president of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, highlighted that the congress brings together “more than a thousand professionals to address the future of our coasts from the perspective of smart tourism, marine conservation, and sustainable water management.” 
He recalled that Andalusia aspires to lead the blue transition in Europe: “Looking at the sea is looking at the future. Our Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy puts water, innovation, and climate adaptation at the center of regional policies.”

Yolanda de Aguilar, Secretary General for Tourism of the Regional Government of Andalusia, highlighted that blue tourism represents “70% of the economic impact of the blue economy in Andalusia” and defended a model based on predictive intelligence, flow management, quality, and territorial regeneration.
She stressed that Andalusia is moving towards less seasonal tourism: “This year, a British tour operator has expanded its tourist footprint to 40 municipalities that never before received international visitors.”

For his part, Antonio Mena, Regional Delegate for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia, stated that the blue economy contributes 11% of Andalusia's GDP, 300,000 jobs, and more than 35,000 companies linked to the sea. He highlighted advances such as the reuse of reclaimed water in Roquetas: “In Andalusia, we say that all water is good. Today, it is already used to irrigate sports facilities, and soon it will be used in more treatment plants that previously discharged into the sea.”
 

Almería, a beacon of the blue economy in Europe

The first deputy mayor and councilor for Public Works, Maintenance, Accessibility, and the Blue Economy at Almería City Council, Sacramento Sánchez, highlighted the city's strategic position: "Sun&Blue consolidates Almería as a beacon of the blue economy in Europe. The Mediterranean, with less than 1% of the world's marine area and 30% of global tourism, is a laboratory where economy, nature, and innovation coexist. For Almería, the sea is not just a landscape: it is identity, sustenance, and future."
He also recalled the pioneering vision of the Blue Municipality and the Almería Blue Municipality Chair, as well as the port-city transformation project and the integration of the sea into the Almería 2030 Strategic Plan.