Energy efficiency funds for tourism 2026: how to access Recovery Plan grants

Key data

Spanish tourism businesses have a new opportunity to access European funding to modernise their facilities and reduce energy consumption. The Resolution of 9 March 2026 of the Secretaría de Estado de Turismo publishes the amendment to the territorial credit distribution agreement of the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia, expanding the funds available for energy efficiency and circular economy projects.

This resolution does not create an entirely new call for applications: it amends and extends an agreement that originated in March 2022, updated in December 2023 and now amended again in February 2026. The result is a redistribution of funds among autonomous communities charged to the 2023 budget, meaning the money is already allocated and regions must activate their application procedures.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the agreement of the Conferencia Sectorial de Turismo that amends the territorial distribution of credit allocated to the financing line for energy efficiency and circular economy projects in tourism businesses, under Component 14, Investment 4, sub-measure 2 of the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.

The mechanism works as follows: the central government agrees with the autonomous communities on how European funds are distributed across territories. Each community receives a share of the credit and manages its own calls so that tourism businesses in its territory can apply. This resolution extends that distribution, meaning more funds are available or they are redistributed among regions.

The eligible projects are aimed at modernising tourism facilities to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability. This includes measures such as improving insulation, replacing air conditioning systems, installing renewable energy sources or implementing waste management systems, among other projects aligned with the circular economy.

Economic and operational impact

For tourism businesses, this resolution represents a funding opportunity for investments that would otherwise have to be financed entirely through their own resources or bank financing. The Recovery Plan funds make it possible to undertake energy efficiency reforms that have a dual positive impact: they reduce long-term operating costs (lower energy bills) and improve the competitive positioning of the establishment.

The most immediate operational impact is that each autonomous community will manage its own procedure. This means that deadlines, specific requirements and required documentation may vary by territory. Businesses operating in several autonomous communities will need to manage independent applications in each of them.

From a financial planning perspective, accessing these funds can allow businesses to bring forward sustainability investments that would otherwise be postponed, taking advantage of European funding before Recovery Plan funds are exhausted or execution deadlines expire.

Who is affected?

This resolution directly affects businesses in the tourism sector across the entire Spanish territory that wish to undertake energy efficiency or circular economy projects:

• Hotels and tourist accommodation establishments (hotels, hostels, tourist apartments, campsites, rural houses)
• Restaurants and catering establishments with tourism activity
• Travel agencies and tour operators
• Other tourism operators carrying out their activity within the regulated tourism sector

The territorial scope covers the entire Spanish territory, with fund distribution through the autonomous communities, which are responsible for managing the calls and resolving applications.

Practical example

A medium-sized hotel in Andalusia wishing to replace its air conditioning system with a more efficient one and thereby reduce its electricity consumption can apply for this financing line. To do so, the first step is to contact the department responsible for tourism at the Junta de Andalucía to find out whether the regional call is open, what the specific requirements are and what documentation must be submitted.

Similarly, a restaurant chain with establishments in several autonomous communities wishing to implement a waste management system aligned with the circular economy will need to manage independent applications in each community where it operates, as each region manages its share of the credit autonomously.

In both cases, the starting point is the same: identify the managing body in the corresponding autonomous community and verify the status of the regional call before initiating any procedure.

What should businesses do now?

1. Identify the managing autonomous community: Locate the tourism department or agency in your autonomous community responsible for managing the funds under Component 14, Investment 4 of the Recovery Plan. This is the essential first step before any other procedure.
2. Check the status of the regional call: Find out whether the regional call is open, in preparation or already closed. The funds are charged to the 2023 budget and the Recovery Plan execution deadlines are limited.
3. Define the energy efficiency or circular economy project: Prepare a description of the project you wish to finance: what investment it involves, what reduction in energy consumption or sustainability improvement it entails, and what the estimated budget is.
4. Gather basic business documentation: Have the standard documentation ready for grant applications: articles of incorporation, tax identification number, latest annual accounts, certificates of being up to date with tax and social security obligations.
5. Submit the application within the deadline set by the autonomous community: Once the regional call is open, submit the application within the deadline. Funds are limited and allocated according to the criteria of each regional call.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7331