The world’s most sustainable tourist destinations have been unveiled.

In its latest report, the Global Destination Sustainability Index has released its 2024 rankings of the most sustainable tourism destinations from around the globe.

The report benchmarks sustainability performance in terms of the environment, social issues, supply chains and destination management.

All up, it found that Helsinki (pictured above) claimed the top spot for the first time.

The Finnish capital replaced Gothenburg, which dropped to second place followed by third-placed Copenhagen.

In terms of Helsinki, the report highlights several initiatives which the city has undertaken.

These include:

• Implementation of a biodiversity strategy that is aligned with international and local needs and which includes community-led initiatives, habitat mapping and the empowerment of residents in green space conservation.
• Further enhancement of environmental protection through the Helsinki City Strategy (2021 – 2025), which created new protected areas and focused on reducing maritime emissions.
• Commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for tourism and events by 2040, with a firm target to also achieve carbon-neutral status by the same year.
• A climate action plan which involves the active monitoring of carbon emissions, water usage, and resident sentiment to ensure continuous progress towards the city’s sustainability goals.
• Involvement of residents in decision making through the Tourism and Events Programme (2022 -2026). This involves using participatory budgeting and events to shape the city’s tourism strategy.
• Support of supply chains through financial aid for environmental certifications and sustainability training.

Outside of the top ranked cities, entrants such as Limerick, Victoria, Quebec City, Dublin and Horsens have joined the ranks.

Meanwhile, Reykjavik makes a welcome return after a brief absence.

In terms of regions, a shift is occurring in the Asia Pacific as several destinations have entered the Top 40 rankings, underscoring an increased emphasis on sustainable travel in the region. Singapore and Sydney emerged as leaders in this movement, securing the top positions in their region.

In Central and Southern Europe, Bordeaux claimed the top spot, surpassing Glasgow, while Zurich also climbed the ranks. Paris has made a notable entry at fifth place on account of an innovative approaches to more responsible, responsive tourism and sustainable infrastructure.

In North America, Victoria has overtaken Montreal this year, showcasing its growing reputation as a sustainable travel destination. Meanwhile, Quebec, Edmonton, and Ottawa have maintained their positions.

As anticipated, Helsinki remains a standout leader in Northern Europe. Bergen has climbed one spot on account of its commitment to social, economic, and environmental well-being while Aarhus makes a welcome debut in the rankings

(Thanks to a holistic sustainability approach including a comprehensive water managment plan, a forward thinking mobility plan and an advanced circular economy strategy, Kumamoto in Japan is the most improved destination in this year’s list.)

Positive and Negative Trends  

Overall, the report found that efforts to improve the sustainability performance of destinations are improving.

Over the past nine years, the average performance in destination sustainability has increased by 23 percent.

Particular momentum can be seen in the Top 10, where a 44 percent increase has been observed.

In addition, encouraging trends are evident in some areas.

In particular, there has been a greater focus upon accountability with an increase in third-party certifications across hotels, venues and airports – though many destinations still grapple with the complexities of fully implementing third-party-verified standards.

This has particularly been driven by impending sustainability regulations in the European Union.

Meanwhile, there has been greater use of technology and data to drive decision making in regard to sustainable tourism strategies.

Nevertheless, areas for concern remain.

Whilst many destinations have ambitious climate targets, few are adequately prepared in terms of strategies for mitigation of increasing climate related disasters.

All up, fewer than half of the major cities that were analysed in the report had crisis management plans for tourism and events.

Next, as overtourism becomes an issue in some areas, only 13 percent of the top 40 destinations have conducted ‘social carrying capacity’ studies to determine the point at which the quality of the user experience deteriorates.

This, the report says, highlights the need for better visitor management strategies to protect culturally and environmentally sensitive sites.

Finally, whilst there has been a growing commitment to communicate sustainability efforts, the report says that there is still room for improvement in this area.

Currently, only 62 percent of destinations include their sustainability performance in city reports.

Moreover, whilst 80 percent share sustainability information about key suppliers, only 61 percent provide details on their strategy regarding sustainable events.

(Victoria has overtaken Montreal as the most sustainable destination in North America)

Guy Bigwood, CEO, GDS-Movement, said the importance of sustainable destinations should not be underestimated.

“The 2024 GDS-Index results show that the path to a more sustainable visitor economy is more critical than ever,” Bigwood said.

“As global destinations face the multiple pressures of climate change, inequality, and overtourism, forward-thinking governance, transparency, and innovative practices will be the key drivers of lasting impact.

The success of the Top 40 destinations highlights the power of collective action and a commitment to regenerative tourism that benefits both people and planet.”