Good practices
GSTC Criteria: Setting Global Standards for Sustainable Tourism
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), founded in 2010 by UN agencies, WWF, UNEP, and others, leads the way in establishing global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. These standards—called the GSTC Criteria—define the minimum expectations for environmental, social, cultural,...
Gran Canaria – A Sustainable Biosphere Destination
In January 2024, the island of Gran Canaria officially received the prestigious Biosphere Destination certification - recognizing its commitment to sustainable tourism and its alignment with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It ranks among the top 15 European destinations...
Eco‑tourism – a Sustainable Chain in Northern Sweden
In January 2022, the Interreg Europe platform presented the “Eco‑tourism – a sustainable chain” as a success story from Övre Norrland, Sweden. Faced with growing interest from eco-conscious travelers, local tourism businesses discovered a critical challenge: a lack of locally...
Boutiquehotel Stadthalle: Pioneering the SDGs in Vienna’s Heart
Located in Vienna’s 15th district, Boutiquehotel Stadthalle has earned global recognition for its sustainability revolution. It became the world’s first city hotel with a zero-energy balance, generating as much energy as it uses, while fully aligning with the United Nations’...
Cruise Tourism Industry & City of Dubrovnik
On 24 July 2019, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to foster sustainable tourism and effective visitor management in one of Croatia’s most iconic destinations. Key Commitments under the...
Äksyt Ämmät Oy: Responsible Travel in North Karelia
Äksyt Ämmät Oy, also known internationally as Green Finn Tour Operator, is a fully licensed tour agency and DMC based in Nurmes, North Karelia, Finland, offering eco-conscious, responsible travel experiences since the mid‑1990s. Äksyt Ämmät focuses on experiences that tread lightly...
North Downs Way Trail: Embracing Modern Pilgrimage
The North Downs Way National Trail is a 246 km route following a medieval pilgrim path from Canterbury to Winchester (later extended to Dover). Officially recognised as a National Trail in 1978, it traces ancient pilgrim routes to Canterbury Cathedral and...
Justgood Tourism: Sustainable Destination Management in Italy
Justgood Tourism, founded in 2020 and based in Padova, Italy, is a multidisciplinary consultancy specializing in transforming tourist destinations, DMOs (Destination Management Organizations), and public bodies into proactive agents of sustainable tourism. Their mission is clear: shift the focus from...
Alpine Pearls: Car-Free Holidays and Eco-Mobility in the Alps
Alpine Pearls is a transnational network of Alpine destinations across Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy, formed in 2006 to promote sustainable, car-free tourism. Since 2022, this cooperation operates as a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) to deepen eco-travel solutions....
CROSSDEV: Culture and Nature for a Greener Mediterranean
CROSSDEV—short for Cultural Routes for Sustainable Social and Economic Development in the Mediterranean—is a European project with a mission: to turn lesser-known areas of the Mediterranean into models of sustainable tourism. Running from 2019 to 2023 and funded by the...