The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index)* has unveiled its 2024 rankings, highlighting the Top 40 sustainable destinations from around the globe. These exceptional locations demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable tourism by effectively balancing tourism growth with environmental stewardship and community well-being.

In 2024, the GDS-Index broadened its scope by introducing new criteria that focus on regenerative tourism, circular economy practices, and enhanced climate action criteria. These significant updates reflect the evolving needs of modern tourism, which has resulted in a shift, with lower rankings overall for destinations in this year’s index benchmarking.

The Top 40 destinations demonstrate a commitment to innovation, sustainability practices, and forward-thinking policies, with leaders from well-established and emerging regions alike. For the first time, Helsinki claimed the top spot, replacing Gothenburg, which had held the leading position for several years on and off, and dropped down to second place. Copenhagen follows closely in third place, solidifying its status as a global leader in sustainable destination management.

Read the full article at Global Destination Sustainability Movement