Green Destinations Certification Programs for Destinations
Our certification program offers something for all types of destinations: large or small, new to or experienced in sustainable destination management. Municipalities, cities, islands, regions, protected areas, and private destinations can apply. At the same time, countries, states or provinces can opt for our Integrated Program for Countries and Regions to collectively introduce sustainable destination management and certification to a number of destinations within a territory.
About the Green Destinations Certification Programs for Destinations
Who is this program for?
Municipalities, counties, regions, islands protected areas etc.
Certificate Validity
3 years for Certification
Implementation
Initial engagement phase followed by minimum 3 years membership
Cost
Starting from €2300 annually, based on destination size and type. Discount for low & middle-income countries
GSTC Certification by Green Destinations
“Green Destinations Certified” is our option to obtain GSTC Certification: global recognition for excellence in sustainable destination management.
The certification is accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for adhering to the highest standards of transparent, objective and evidence-based certification. The audit is more rigorous, involving broad stakeholder consultation to verify compliance, and all criteria compliance should be fully supported by documented evidence.
Why join this program?
Destinations enrolled in the Certification Program participate in a sustainability management cycle aimed at continuous improvement through regular assessments and independent verifications.
Methodology
Our certification programs are structured by the sustainability management guidelines of our Green Destinations Standard, which is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to cover globally agreed sustainability requirements. Progress is monitored through indicators, which makes the program concrete and measurable. You can easily implement our guidelines and indicators in your management system.
Destinations signing up for the certification program engage in a sustainability management cycle aimed at continuous improvement with periodic assessment and independent verification.
The main steps include:
1. Initial Inquiry
Submit your inquiry using our online form to express interest in the Awards Program. This allows us to assess your eligibility and provide you with detailed information on the process, requirements, and associated costs based on your destination’s size and location.
2. Engagement and reporting
Induction training on destination sustainability and applying the GD Standard, and report your compliance with the GD Standard on our Online Assessment Platform. Coaching by the GD secretariat or a local representative.
3. Evaluation
Technical check and independent audit of reported sustainability compliance.
4. Certification
A Certification Committee evaluates auditor conclusions and (upon a sufficient score), issues the GSTC Certification, which remains valid for 3 years.
5. Action planning for continuous improvement
The online assessment platform provides an Action Planning tool and good practice examples for easy planning and implementing your sustainability improvements following the independent evaluation recommendations.
About GSTC and Green Destinations
Our Certification Programs for Destinations are structured by the Green Destinations Standard, recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and offers GSTC-Accredited Certification to destinations in recognition of sustainable destination management.
“Obtaining GSTC-Accreditation affirms Green Destinations’ effort in complying with the highest international standards in order to establish and offer awards and certification programs.” – GSTC
The GSTC-Recognised Green Destination Standard covers a set of criteria to measure, monitor and improve sustainable destination efforts.
Our GSTC-Accredited Certification Programs
Green Destinations’ Certification Program enhances destinations’ sustainability and quality, along with its visibility worldwide. Some benefits of our program are:
- Continuous and comprehensive assessment and improvement of a destination’s sustainability ‘performance’
- Accredited independent recognition of a destination’s efforts, achievements and positioning as a place that takes good care of its environment, people and culture
- The use of GSTC logo and Green Destinations Certification logos
- Promotion of the destinations across Green Destinations’ social media, website, and Good Travel Guide platform
Green Destinations first Achieved GSTC-Accreditiation in 2018 and renewed this status in 2024.
Affiliate Certification Programs
Green Destinations collaborates closely with other destination certification programs that chose Green Destinations for the back-office infrastructure and as Accredited Certification Body for their own (GSTC-Recognised) standard.
Mountain IDEAL
A certification scheme for mountain resorts in North America, with a number of well-known destinations certified such as Vail and Breckenridge (Colorado). It has a focus on the sustainability performance in a ski-resort context and is managed by the Walking Mountain Science Center.
Sustainability Label South Tyrol
A regional certification scheme in the bi-lingual Alpine region of Südtirol-Alto Adige in the north of Italy. Developed and managed by the regional organisation for Innovation, Development and Marketing (IDM), the South Tyrol Standard was derived from the GSTC-Destination Standard to become applicable to the regional context.
Our GSTC-Accreditation extends to these 2 schemes.
Our GSTC-Recognised Standard
The Green Destinations Standard (V2) is a GSTC-recognised set of criteria to measure, monitor and improve the sustainability policy and management of destinations and regions. It makes sustainable development concrete, objective and demonstrable. In 2020, the 1st GD Standard (developed in 2016) was updated based on consultation with the GD Partnership and re-aligned with the GSTC Destination Criteria V2 – prolonging its ‘GSTC Recognised Status’ in 2021.
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MAIN CONTACT
Hugo de Jong
Head of Destination Certification
Kassandra Marie Correa
Destination Certification Coordinator
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Join our Green Destinations Certification Programs for Destinations today
We offer two types of recognition GD Certification Awards and GD GSTC Certification.
Our awards and certification programs offer something for all types of destinations: large or small, new to or experienced in sustainable destination management.