Green Destinations
Support Program
We offer our partners a pioneering, sustainability-driven approach, delivering a thorough assessment of their destination management or business before working alongside them to build and implement a sustainable tourism model. We do this through a bottom-up approach by providing ongoing support and tailor-made solutions to address our partners’ unique challenges, economic needs, and issues.
We Work With
Destinations
(municipalities, regions, towns, islands, nature and heritage sites)
Businesses & Attractions
(accommodations, attractions, museums, restaurants, etc.)
Destination Management Organizations (DMOs)
Tourism & Travel Products
Our Support Solutions for Success
We partner with destinations, regions, and countries to design, implement, and monitor customised sustainable tourism solutions—tailored to your destination’s unique needs and stage of development. Whether you’re just starting or advancing existing efforts, our modular support solutions can be combined and adapted to fit your goals, capacity, and vision for a holistic approach to sustainability.
EXPLORE OUR 7 KEY SOLUTIONS HERE
Scaling Impact: Destination Spotlights
Across the globe, destinations are using our tools to improve visitor experiences, and support local communities. In this section, we’re highlighting case studies from a variety of locations that have successfully implemented our solutions.
From Regional-Level to Country-Level approaches, these stories showcase how our tools are making a real impact on the ground—and how they can support your destination’s goals too.
SOLUTION #1
Destination Assessment
Before considering certification, destinations benefit from considering a SWOT-based approach in analysing their strengths and opportunities in becoming a sustainable and attractive destination, but also the risks and the impacts of the wrong type of tourism.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To evaluate your level of sustainability in relation to the SDGs or GSTC Destination Criteria.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
This enables you to evaluate your strategy and action plan based on the SDGs or Green Destinations Standards, and to develop a strategy for improvement, as a basis for becoming a more attractive destination. It also helps you understand whether you are already eligible for sustainability recognition.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #2
Sustainable Tourism Action Planning
Depending on your objectives, Green Destinations can support you in a tailored approach that matches your needs. For example, in the follow-up to a destination assessment, this solution can offer either of the following tools.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To identify and plan smart actions for improvement and recognition with GD and QualityCoast Awards.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- You want to evaluate your tourism vision, strategy and action plan.
- Your team needs training to understand better the management of the public domain, including visitor management, avoiding overtourism, and creating the conditions for the protection (and visitor experience) of cultural, natural and scenic values.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #3
Support to the GD Awards Program
Destination recognition through GD’s Awards requires careful planning and reporting.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To evaluate your level of sustainability in relation to SDGs or the Green Destinations Criteria.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- Your destination team needs training to improve destination management.
- You seek recognition for your sustainability efforts through global awards, including the Top 100, QualityCoast and Green Destinations.
- You aim for GSTC-Accredited certification. Please note that Green Destinations is not allowed to offer dedicated support to prepare for certification. However, in this case it is still highly recommended to consider our solutions for Business Sector Engagement and Data-Driven Management.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #4
Business Sector Engagement
We will work with you based on the following approaches that ensure private sector entities will be engaged and supported in sustainability.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To evaluate private sector sustainability and support business certification.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- International surveys show that travellers highly appreciate or even expect hotels to adopt sustainability principles and certification.
- For destination certification, it is necessary to have a list of certified suppliers.
- GTS-Certified accommodations will be featured in the booking pages of Booking.com and Google.
- You would like to promote your destination through a branded business or event certification Program.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #5
Climate Action Planning
Destinations seeking Climate Action Planning from Green Destinations can greatly benefit from a variety of solutions.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To evaluate your carbon footprint and action planning for climate mitigation and resilience.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- It will enable you to contribute to a low-carbon future and climate resilience.
- It will appeal to tour operators and visitors who will love earning about what you do for the global climate. We can help you disseminate this message.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #6
Data-Driven Management
Participation will greatly improve your destination management and planning.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To monitor and report your progress with key performance indicators using advanced technologies.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- It will help you stand out by using a state-of-the-art data solution.
- It can be combined with all other Training & Support Solutions presented here.
- It will support your businesses in measuring their impacts and benefits with real data, which will be essential for making any green claims in view of emerging consumer protection legislation such as the EU Green Claims Directive.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
SOLUTION #7
Visitor Experiences & Market Access
As a destination, you must not only promote a destination certification result or certified hotels, but also a range of visitor experiences. With our solutions you can develop and promote socially beneficial activities while avoiding a high environmental impact.
This solution is for those whose GOAL is:
To improve the destination’s tourism offer to meet emerging visitor demands.
Why choose this SOLUTION?
- To gain support and peer-to-peer cooperation in making your destination experience more attractive and positive, bringing clear benefits in marketing, promotion and market access.
- To benefit from the same support for your businesses as our solutions for data-driven management.
We can support you with these different TOOLS:
Scaling Impact: Destination Spotlights
Across the globe, destinations are using our tools to improve visitor experiences, and support local communities. In this section, we’re highlighting case studies from a variety of locations that have successfully implemented our solutions.
From Regional-Level to Country-Level approaches, these stories showcase how our tools are making a real impact on the ground—and how they can support your destination’s goals too.
North York Moors NP
Mapping sustainability across North York Moors businesses
Aqaba, Jordan
Guiding Aqaba’s sustainable tourism transformation
Sişli, Türkiye
Supporting Şişli, with capacity-building and sustainability certification tools
Greater Mekong Subregion
Empowering Mekong tourism through training and certification frameworks.
Bonaire
Boosting Bonaire sustainability through white-label Blue Certification program
Guyana
Empowering Guyana tourism through assessments, certification, and training
Kyrgyzstan
Empowering local experts to certify and mentor sustainable tourism businesses
Costa del Sol
A white-label model to certify businesses while strengthening regional branding
Sri Lanka
Supporting Sri Lanka’s tourism program, certifying Sigiriya and MSMEs
Visit Estonia
Pilot certification program framework driving sustainable tourism growth
Slovenia Green
Enabling nationwide standards through white-label certification.
Learn how Green Destinations has supported destinations like these — and how we can support yours.
Green Destinations has carefully separated Certification and Support actions
GREEN DESTINATIONS FOUNDATION
Responsible for Destination Certification and for recognition through the Top 100 Stories Competition.
GREEN DESTINATIONS SOLUTIONS
A different legal entity, offers Destination Assessment, along with tailored Coaching, Training, Consultancy Solutions and Promotional Events for selected destinations. This is how we strictly avoid conflicts of interest.