News
– Veolia and the University of the Balearic Islands sign a collaboration agreement to promote sustainable tourism within the framework of the WATOURISM project
– Calvià is the pilot municipality of the WATOURISM project, which mobilizes 764 thousand euros and focuses on remote reading, artificial intelligence, and sustainable water management in tourist areas
Veolia and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) signed today a collaboration agreement within the framework of the WATOURISM project – “Intelligent water management contributing to sustainable tourism,” a pioneering initiative that focuses on digitalization and sustainable management of the water cycle to advance towards a regenerative tourism model in the Balearic Islands.
The event, held at the Antoni Maria Alcover building of the UIB, was attended by representatives from both entities: from the University of the Balearic Islands, Dr. Víctor Homar, Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy and Research; Dr. Loren Carrasco, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Digital Transformation; Dr. Celso Garcia, professor in the area of Physical Geography; and Dr. Dolores Tirado, associate professor in the area of Applied Economics. From Veolia, attendees included Narciso Berberana, Territorial Director for the Balearic Islands; Guillermo Carbonero, Executive Director for the Balearic Islands; and Desirée Marín, Innovation Director for the Balearic Islands. Researchers from the Water Resources, Urban Studies and Global Change research group (GLOWATER – URBAN STUDIES) of the UIB were also present.
The event began with remarks from the Vice-Rector for Scientific Policy and Research of the UIB, Víctor Homar, who emphasized that “this alliance with Veolia represents an example of how public-private collaboration, knowledge, and innovation can generate real solutions to major territorial challenges. WATOURISM allows us to put UIB research at the service of territorial sustainability, working with top-level collaborators. We want Calvià to be the laboratory where we demonstrate that regenerative tourism is possible, reducing pressure on our water resources and helping to preserve them, and that this model can be replicated in other destinations. This agreement is the first step in a collaboration we want to be broad and lasting: today we have taken the opportunity to explore synergies in other strategic areas such as training, cybersecurity, data valorization, and other innovation areas that can generate a positive impact on the territory.”
For his part, the Territorial Director of Veolia Balearic Islands, Narciso Berberana, highlighted that “this collaboration with the UIB strengthens our commitment to territorial sustainability and provides fundamental strategic value: building bridges between the university’s local knowledge, Veolia’s experience, and the technological excellence of Cetaqua, our Water Technology Center, together with the network of collaborators such as the University of Girona and the University of Valladolid. This alliance allows us to help both public administrations and the private sector advance towards a sustainable tourism model, and WATOURISM is a perfect example of how we can offer concrete solutions to the water challenges posed by the climate emergency in tourist areas.”
The WATOURISM project, co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, has an investment of 764 thousand euros and the participation of Veolia, Cetaqua, the University of Valladolid, the University of Girona and, in the Balearic Islands, the collaboration of experts from the GLOWATER group of the UIB. The project will run until September 2027 and focuses on the municipality of Calvià, one of Mallorca’s main tourist destinations, as a case study.
The initiative is structured around three innovative axes: the use of smart meter data and artificial intelligence for territorial management and early detection of leaks or illegal tourist accommodations; the management of tourism’s water footprint through the Act4water standard, promoting water compensation and resilience projects; and the development of advanced models to evaluate water demand policies in the hotel and residential sectors.
In this regard, WATOURISM promotes a sustainable management of water resources linked to tourism as a key element to ensure water resilience, climate change adaptation, and territorial prosperity, as well as the well-being of residents and visitors. In a context of increasing pressure on water, tourism must evolve towards a model that integrates resource efficiency and reinforces its role not only as an economic engine, but also as a catalyst for social progress and environmental protection. The current water crisis poses an urgent challenge for the tourism sector and demands immediate and coordinated action from all territorial stakeholders. In this direction, public-private collaboration stands as a fundamental tool to drive innovative solutions, strengthen tourism competitiveness, and respond to the challenges of climate change.
The ultimate goal of WATOURISM is to establish a methodological framework based on digitalization, innovation, and sustainability that can be replicated in other high-traffic tourist destinations, contributing to the sector’s adaptation to the climate context and mitigating the sector’s impact on water resources.
The agreement signed today reinforces Veolia and UIB’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, and will enable the development of tools and methodologies that facilitate decision-making for both administration and businesses. The Universitat de les Illes Balears will provide technical advice and collaborate in identifying improvements in water management within the WATOURISM project. The collaboration, which will extend for three years, establishes a joint working framework between Veolia and UIB to develop innovative water management schemes in tourist areas and promote sustainability.
This agreement is part of the public-private collaboration project “Intelligent water management contributing to sustainable tourism” (WATOURISM) CPP2023-010835, funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.
