Tourism Sustainability Plan Santiago 2026: what changes for hospitality and retail

Key data

Tourism operators and hospitality and retail businesses in Santiago de Compostela should be aware that the city's Tourism Sustainability Plan remains in force with new amendments. The Resolution of 18 March 2026 of the Secretaría de Estado de Turismo publishes the second addendum that extends and amends the agreement signed with the Agencia Turismo de Galicia and the Ayuntamiento de Santiago de Compostela.

This is not the first amendment to the original agreement: this is the second addendum, which indicates that the plan has already been adjusted previously and that the administrations involved have chosen to extend its validity rather than close it. For businesses in the sector, this means that the regulatory and public funding framework for tourism in Santiago remains active and can generate both obligations and opportunities.

What does this regulation establish?

The second addendum introduces three types of changes to the original agreement:

• Deadline adjustments: The implementation deadlines of the plan are amended, allowing actions already under way to be completed within the new schedule.
• Amendment of implementation commitments: The signing parties — Secretaría de Estado de Turismo, Agencia Turismo de Galicia and Concello de Santiago — update their commitments regarding the planned actions.
• Possible redistribution of funds: The addendum may involve adjustments to how public funds are distributed among the three signing administrations, although the exact details of the amounts are not specified in the published resolution.

The objective of the Tourism Sustainability Plan is to balance visitor numbers with the quality of life of residents and the preservation of the heritage of Santiago de Compostela. This translates into specific actions on infrastructure, regulation of tourism activity and improvement of the destination's offering.

As the second addendum, this agreement has already gone through at least two rounds of amendments since its original signing, reflecting the complexity of implementing plans of this nature in a destination with the uniqueness of Santiago de Compostela — a UNESCO World Heritage city and destination of the Camino de Santiago.

Economic and operational impact

For businesses in the sector, the impact of this addendum can be analysed in two dimensions:

Opportunities: The extension guarantees the continuity of projects funded with public funds. If your business participates or can participate in actions co-financed by the plan — infrastructure improvements, digitalisation, signage, accessibility or environmental sustainability — the extension of the agreement keeps that funding window open.

Possible regulatory obligations: Tourism sustainability plans are usually accompanied by measures that directly affect the operations of businesses at the destination. These may include requirements on waste management, capacity limits in certain areas, quality standards or conditions for the use of public spaces. The amendment of implementation commitments may translate into new requirements for local operators.

Changes in the destination's tourism offering: Investments in infrastructure and the regulation of tourist flows can alter visitor patterns and, with them, the demand received by businesses in the city. Knowing the planned actions is key to anticipating changes in customer volume.

Who is affected?

• Tourism businesses in Santiago de Compostela: travel agencies, tourist guide companies, experience and activity operators.
• Hospitality establishments: hotels, hostels, tourist apartments, restaurants and bars located in the city.
• Local retail: craft shops, souvenir stores and any retail business whose activity is linked to tourist footfall.
• Tourist accommodation managers: especially those located in the historic centre or areas with high visitor concentration.
• Service providers to the tourism sector: transport, cleaning, maintenance or technology companies working with the sector in Santiago.

Practical example

A three-star hotel located in the historic centre of Santiago de Compostela that has been participating for two years in an accessibility improvement programme co-financed by the Tourism Sustainability Plan was facing the risk of the agreement expiring before the planned works could be completed.

With the second addendum, the implementation deadlines are extended, allowing the establishment to complete the actions within the new schedule and maintain access to the committed public funding. At the same time, if the addendum introduces new implementation commitments, the hotel will need to review whether the conditions of its participation in the plan have changed and whether it needs to adapt any aspect of its project to remain eligible.

This same scenario applies to any hospitality or retail business with ongoing actions linked to the plan: the extension is an opportunity to complete what has been started, but it also requires verifying that the new terms of the agreement do not alter the conditions under which participation was approved.

What should businesses do now?

1. Check whether your business participates in any action under the plan: Contact the Concello de Santiago or the Agencia Turismo de Galicia to confirm whether you have active projects linked to the agreement and how the new deadlines affect them.
2. Review the new implementation commitments: If you participate in the plan, request the updated documentation of the second addendum to check whether the conditions of your participation or the requirements for accessing funding have changed.
3. Identify new funding opportunities: The extension may open new calls or broaden the scope of fundable actions. Check with the Ayuntamiento de Santiago whether there are new support lines for businesses in the sector.
4. Anticipate possible regulatory changes: Review whether the plan includes measures that could affect your operations — tourist flow management, sustainability requirements, restrictions in high-concentration areas — and adapt your operational planning accordingly.
5. Consult a specialist adviser in tourism and grants: If your business has significant exposure to tourism in Santiago, an adviser can help you identify the specific impact of the changes introduced by the second addendum and take advantage of the available funding opportunities.

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-2026-7016