SUMMARYEvery
year, GDS-Movement publishes the "GDS-Index", the Global Destination Sustainability Index, the first international program to assess the sustainability and improve the performance of destinations and their tourism economies. The ranking of the top 40 destinations for 2024 is available here.
In addition to this ranking, the organization awards four destinations in the following categories: Leadership Award, Best Progress Award, Innovation Award and Impact Award. Here are the winners for 2024:
- Leadership Award 2024: Helsinki - with a score of 92.43%. Helsinki's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for the destination and zero emissions for its events by 2040, as well as its focus on involving residents in decision-making processes, make it a pioneering city for climate action and urban sustainability.
- 2024 Best Progression Award: Kumamoto
- 2024 Innovation Award: Copenhagen, with the "CopenPay" approach - Visitors are rewarded for their positive actions on the climate front, such as choosing a more sustainable mode of transport or taking part in site clean-up activities. By ensuring transparent monitoring of environmental impact, the initiative offers a replicable model that cities around the world can adopt to promote more responsible tourism.
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GDS-Movement & MEET4IMPACT award for best impact: Copenhagen, with the "Copenhagen Legacy Lab"
In France, the pioneering cities remain Bordeaux (6th overall) and Lyon (15th).
Keywords: ranking, events, impact, GDS-Index, legacy, MEET4IMPACT, MICE, sustainable tourism, regenerative tourism, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Kumamoto, Denmark, Finland, Japan.
Illustration: GDS-Movement (c)
