Extension of the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Liébana: what changes for businesses

Key data

Tourism businesses in the Comarca de Liébana are guaranteed the continuity of institutional support for the development of sustainable tourism in their territory. The Secretaría de Estado de Turismo has published the second extension and modification addendum to the agreement signed with the Gobierno de Cantabria and the Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia, through the Resolución de 18 de marzo de 2026 (BOE-A-2026-6946).

This addendum is not a new agreement: it is an extension and adjustment of the original accord, meaning that the measures already underway regarding sustainable tourism in Liébana continue with possible changes to deadlines, funds or the commitments of each party.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the second addendum to the agreement for the Plan de Sostenibilidad Turística in the Comarca de Liébana. An addendum is a formal modification of an existing contract or agreement: it does not replace it, but updates it in specific aspects.

Based on the available data, this second addendum may involve the following types of adjustments:

• Extension of the validity of the original agreement, allowing the planned measures to continue.
• Adjustments to the execution deadlines of the plan's measures.
• Modifications to the distribution of funds among the parties.
• Changes to the commitments assumed by each of the three signatory parties: Secretaría de Estado de Turismo, Gobierno de Cantabria and Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia.

The original agreement aims to implement the Plan de Sostenibilidad Turística in the Comarca de Liébana, a territory of high natural and cultural value that includes the Camino Lebaniego and the Picos de Europa. This plan is part of the national sustainable tourism policy with tripartite support: central, regional and local government.

This is the second addendum, which indicates that a first modification to the original agreement already existed. The accumulation of addenda reflects the willingness of the three administrations to keep the agreement alive and adapt its implementation to the reality of the territory.

Economic and operational impact

For tourism businesses in Liébana, this extension has a direct positive impact: the continuity of public investments that improve the competitive environment of the destination.

The measures that remain active may include:

• Tourism infrastructure: improvements to access routes, signage, facilities and spaces for tourist use in the region.
• Destination promotion: marketing and positioning actions for Liébana as a sustainable tourism destination at national and international level.
• Sustainability measures: projects that reinforce responsible management of the territory and the visitor experience.

From an operational standpoint, possible adjustments to execution deadlines may affect businesses that have projects or applications linked to the plan. If deadlines are extended, there is more room to implement measures. If funds are redistributed, some lines may gain or lose allocation.

The Comarca de Liébana is consolidating its position as a priority sustainable tourism destination with this renewed institutional support, which strengthens its positioning against competing destinations in the nature and cultural tourism segment.

Who is affected?

• Tourism businesses in the Comarca de Liébana: hotels, rural guesthouses, activity operators, restaurants and any business linked to tourism in the area.
• Local councils in the region: municipalities integrated in the Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia that participate in the implementation of the plan.
• Local entities and tourism sector associations: organisations that collaborate in the promotion and management of the Liébana destination.
• Businesses linked to the Camino Lebaniego and the Picos de Europa: operators that depend on the flow of visitors attracted by these key tourism resources.
• Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia: as a signatory party to the agreement, it is the key local interlocutor for the implementation of the measures.

Practical example

A rural guesthouse located in the Comarca de Liébana that had applied to benefit from an infrastructure improvement measure within the Plan de Sostenibilidad Turística was awaiting resolution because the original agreement was close to expiring.

With the publication of this second addendum, the agreement is extended and the planned measures can continue to be implemented. This means that the application from that rural guesthouse is not left in limbo due to a lack of regulatory coverage under the plan: the administration can continue processing it within the framework of the renewed agreement.

If the addendum includes adjustments to execution deadlines, the owner of the rural guesthouse may have more time to complete the requirements or justify the committed measures. If there is a redistribution of funds, it is advisable to check with the Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia or the Gobierno de Cantabria whether the available allocation for their type of measure is maintained or changes.

What should businesses do now?

1. Contact the Mancomunidad de Liébana y Peñarrubia to find out the updated status of the plan's measures and whether the deadlines or funds of interest have changed with this second addendum.
2. Review any pending applications or projects linked to the Plan de Sostenibilidad Turística to verify that they remain eligible under the conditions modified by the addendum.
3. Consult with the Gobierno de Cantabria (tourism department) to check whether there are new calls or lines of action open under the extended agreement.
4. Read the full text of the addendum published in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-6946) to precisely identify which deadlines, funds or commitments have changed compared to the previous version of the agreement.
5. Update investment planning if the business had planned to benefit from measures under the plan, adjusting schedules to the new execution deadlines established by the addendum.

Official source

View full regulation at the 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-2026-6946