A total of 12 new criteria have been added to the GDS-Index – destination-level performance tool that measures, benchmarks, and improves the regenerative strategy and implementation of tourism and events destinations of participating destinations worldwide.
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), a pioneering change agency, committed to fostering regenerative destinations and events globally, is the driving force behind the GDS-Index.
This year, the update introduces 12 new and 28 enhanced criteria, totalling 77 qualitative and quantitative indicators across all four performance categories: environmental, social, supplier, and destination management.
The criteria enhancement results in a more rigorous index that measures and prepares destinations for the significant challenges facing the tourism and events industry, including climate change, loss of biodiversity and negative social impacts, all exacerbated by lack of efficient legislations.
To better assess current sustainability performance and future fit strategy, the following sub-categories were improved or introduced: water management, circular economy, short-term tourism rentals, funding mechanisms, resident sentiment, climate action, visitor management, capacity building, mobility, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
“Amidst mounting global challenges, the urgency for faster and smarter responses in tourism is clear. With destinations actively engaging in their sustainability journey, our criteria update reflects a commitment to evolution, addressing emerging issues, and emphasising regeneration. This isn’t just about improvement; it’s about propelling the industry towards a regenerative future, urgently calling for collective action to change the tourism and events industry to mitigate climate change and accelerate real action on sustainability worldwide,” said Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement.
