Green Destinations

Top 100 Story Awards

ITB Berlin 2026

The Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards showcase and celebrate the most inspirational initiatives for sustainable tourism development from stories submitted to the annual Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition.

GD
Top100
ITB Berlin
Good Travel Guide

Green Destinations Story Awards

Since 2014, the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards at ITB have showcased the most inspiring initiatives for sustainable tourism development in 6 categories based on the nominations for the GD Top 100 Stories. The 11th Edition will take place at ITB Berlin 2026.

During the event, we will announce the winners of the GD Story Awards, celebrate the newly GD Awarded and Certified destinations, and announce the host destination for our GD2026 Global Conference.

Event Images

 

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Special Awards

Special Award

ITB Earth Award

This award recognises exceptional contributions to sustainable tourism through destination stewardship, inspiring practices, and effective stakeholder management.

This story is elected by ITB.

Special Award

People’s Choice Award

This year again, Green Destinations opened a 6th category of awards: the People’s Choice Award – to allow YOU to support your favourite story.

The destination that receives the most votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award.

 

winner

Izmir, Türkiye

Unveiling Urla´s Wine Heritage: The Birth of the Urla Vineyard Route

Awards Categories

Destination Management

Culture & Tradition

Nature & Scenery

Thriving Communities

Environment & Climate

Business & Marketing

Destination Management

NOMINEE

Blekinge Region, Sweden

Connecting nature, culture, and people - the journey of ARK56 in Blekinge

NOMINEE

Kanmon, Japan

The Strait of Seven Paths

NOMINEE

Lviv, Ukraine

Tourism Without Barriers: How Lviv is Building an Inclusive Destination for All

Nominee

Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area, Taiwan

Co-Creating Mao’ao: Transformative Dialogue Among Stakeholders

Nominee

Occitanie, France

Turning Tourism Data into Action for a Resilient Occitanie

Nominee

Van Gogh National Park, The Netherlands

From Visitor Pressure to Balance: How the Wandelstarter approach Reinvents Destination Management

Nature & Scenery

NOMINEE

Amarante, Portugal

Requalification of the banks of the Tâmega River

NOMINEE

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Tourism Among Dolphins: The Transformative Impact of the Spinner Dolphin Project

NOMINEE

Koh Lanta, Thailand

A Hero’s Tale from Lanta Island’s Regenerative Coast: The Hermit Crab

Nominee

Maolin National Scenic Area, Taiwan

Freeway Shutdown for Butterflies – Creating a Homecoming Path for the Purple Crow Butterfly

Nominee

Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia

Towards more sustainable chestnut festival Kestenijada

Nominee

Tibau do Sul, Brazil

Baía dos Golfinhos: participatory governance, connection with nature, and collective commitment to sustainability

Environment & Climate

NOMINEE

Bela Krajina, Slovenia

No Bins, Just Wins: Running Towards a Waste- Free Future

NOMINEE

Chiang Khan, Thailand

When the Mekong Changed: A Fishing Village’s Journey Towards Sustainable Tourism

NOMINEE

Ikawa Forest, Japan

A Forest That Teaches Us Nature—and Inspires the Future

Nominee

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Feel the pulse of the forest – biomonitoring of forest growth and carbon storage

Nominee

Townsville, Australia

A City working with nature and biology to rapidly restore and regenerate the natural environment following disasters

Nominee

Uthai Thani Old Town, Thailand

The Giant Gourami as GI Tourism: A Living Symbol of Climate Resilience, Connecting Water Stewardship with the Cultural Legacy of Old Town

Culture & Tradition

NOMINEE

Beypore, India

Restoring the Age-Old Legacy and Tradition of Handcrafted Wooden Boats: The Story of ‘Beypore Uru'

NOMINEE

Cervia, Italy

Cervia West Salt Story – Recovery of a saltpan

NOMINEE

Jatiluwih Village, Indonesia

Green Miracle in a Cultural Heritage Living Museum

Nominee

Lahemaa, Estonia

From submarines to sustainability: transforming Lahemaa’s military past

Nominee

Minami Shinshu, Japan

Truly moving and genuine rural experience. ‘nōka minpaku’ farm stay

Nominee

Reserva Nacional Mar Tropical de Grau, Perú

Winds of tradition and sustainability: Artisanal sailboat fishing as a living heritage in the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve

Thriving Communities

NOMINEE

Bohinj, Slovenia

Reconnecting fields and forks: building a local vegetable supply chain for Bohinj’s tables

NOMINEE

Isabela de Basilan, Philippines

HAP DENDA (Empowered Women): Championing IP Women for Meaningful and Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Reawakening

NOMINEE

Lanzarote, Spain

Competitive Regenerative School Lanzarote

Nominee

Miskolc, Hungary

Forest to Fork: Miskolc’s Bold Step Beyond Industrial Heritage

Nominee

Niseko, Japan

Learning nurtures people, and people nurture communities: The sustainability of human resources created by tourism education in Niseko, Hokkaido

Nominee

Pärnu, Estonia

Winter’s Spark: The Machinery Magic of Ferrum Romanticus

Business & Marketing

NOMINEE

Bled, Slovenia

Bled Beyond the Postcard: A Multimedia Journey of Authentic Experiences

NOMINEE

Halifax, Canada

Meet with Purpose: Discover Halifax’s Sustainable Business Events Movement

NOMINEE

Marugame City, Japan

The Classroom Is the City: Educating for Circular Tourism across Generations

Nominee

Međimurje, Croatia

Living eco-museum – living community

Nominee

Miren Kras, Slovenia

FLAVORS OF LOVE – A Month of Dishes with Cherries and Asparagus

Nominee

Saaremaa, Estonia

The community that saved the Chickens

Meet the Jury

 

Albert Salman

Albert Salman

Green Destinations

Alex Crevar

Alex Crevar

www.alexcrevar.com

Andreas Dohle

Andreas Dohle

DEL Turismo

Anne de Jong

Anne de Jong

Good Tourism Institute

Bart Hageman

Bart Hageman

Green Destinations

Emma Magistri

Emma Magistri

Green Destinations

Elissa Keenan

Elissa Keenan

Ecotourism Australia

Felipe Vera Soto

Felipe Vera Soto

Green Destinations

Hartmut Wimmer

Hartmut Wimmer

Outdooractive

Holger Sigmund

Holger Sigmund

Tourism Impact

Hugo de Jong

Hugo de Jong

Green Destinations

Jahanzeeb Ahmed

Jahanzeeb Ahmed

BeCause

Jana Apih

Jana Apih

Green Destinations / Goodplace

Katie James

Katie James

Travel Foundation

Kirsi Hyvaerinen

Kirsi Hyvaerinen

Balkan.Green

Lisa Scriven

Lisa Scriven

Impact for Africa

Masaru Takayama

Masaru Takayama

Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN)

Noah Pircher

Noah Pircher

Green Destinations

Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards

Thanks our Sponsors and Partners

GD
Top100
ITB Berlin
Good Travel Guide