Why were we granted this award?
Our city has been integrating the concepts of sustainability, innovation and culture into its strategic plans for many years. Today we can proudly say that Malaga offers everything that travellers and residents need in order to enjoy the city.
In terms of sustainability, for example, Malaga has been working in many different areas: it has installed public LED lighting, it offers more than 20 bicycle rental stations, and it has created bicycle lanes that now total over 40 km.
The city has installed smart irrigation systems for parks and gardens to save water, and has introduced a Sectoral Air Quality Plan to reduce air pollution, control pollen levels and improve noise pollution. Malaga has also improved its street-cleaning equipment, and has worked on better waste separation in the city centre.
In terms of nature, Malaga has a lot to offer. The city boasts almost 50 hectares of protected natural areas, 60 hectares of botanical gardens, over 400 hectares of green spaces, and 5 beaches. Malaga has also restored many of its natural areas, such as its wetlands, creating ideal spaces for bird watching and nature walks.
Malaga is also a city of museums. Over the course of just two decades, the city has gone from having just four museums and exhibition centres to having a total of 37. Many old buildings and their surroundings have been transformed into vibrant cultural spaces, such as the Tabacalera, an old tobacco factory. The work carried out in these areas even caught the notice of the United Nations, which, through the UNITAR agency, has established a CIFAL centre in Malaga, specialised in sustainable tourism training.
