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World Leaders In Sustainable Tourism Honored At The Prestigious 2024 GDS-Awards Ceremony For Revolutionary Affect
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The 2024 GDS-Awards honored international leaders in sustainable tourism, recognizing innovation and lasting constructive impression at a prestigious ceremony in Bruges.
The World Vacation spot Sustainability Motion (GDS-Motion) is proud to announce the winners of the distinguished 2024 GDS-Awards. Held on the Bruges Royal Municipal Theatre through the GDS-Discussion board & CityDNA Autumn Convention on 16 October, the occasion celebrated the trailblazers within the tourism and occasions trade which might be main the way in which in sustainability, innovation, and creating long-lasting constructive impacts. These awards not solely acknowledge exceptional achievements but in addition spotlight the rising want for regenerative tourism that advantages each native communities and the surroundings.
The GDS-Awards give attention to 4 essential classes: Management, Innovation, Most Improved Vacation spot, and Affect in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT. Every class sheds gentle on the initiatives that transcend standard sustainability approaches, striving for regeneration and well-being. From local weather motion to neighborhood involvement, these locations have set new requirements that others can observe to remodel tourism right into a power for good.
Management Award: Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, Finland, emerged because the winner of the Management Award on the 2024 GDS-Awards. The Finnish capital scored a formidable 92.43% on the GDS-Index, showcasing its unmatched dedication to sustainability in tourism. Helsinki’s complete strategy to sustainable vacation spot administration spans throughout numerous sectors, together with governance and tourism, specializing in carbon neutrality and biodiversity. The town goals to realize carbon neutrality by 2040, with its occasions sector following swimsuit to realize net-zero emissions.
Helsinki’s strategic tasks such because the City Local weather Leaders in Tourism group and its biodiversity initiatives set a brand new benchmark in vacation spot sustainability. By actively involving residents in decision-making processes and adopting a forward-thinking strategy to local weather motion, Helsinki has turn into a world chief in city sustainability.
“Helsinki has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainability over the years. The top ranking is a testament to the effectiveness of our efforts and the dedication of our team,” stated Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director, Metropolis of Helsinki.
Most Improved Vacation spot Award: Kumamoto, Japan
Kumamoto, Japan, took house the Most Improved Vacation spot Award, recognizing its exceptional 42.39% enchancment in its GDS-Index rating in comparison with final yr. Often known as the “City of Water,” Kumamoto has made sustainability a high precedence, particularly in its water administration practices. The town’s forward-looking technique features a mobility plan, a sturdy round economic system framework, and a biodiversity technique, all geared toward selling a extra inclusive and eco-friendly vacation spot.
One among Kumamoto’s key areas of focus has been Range, Fairness, and Inclusion (DEI), making certain that town’s tourism efforts not solely shield its pure assets but in addition create an inclusive surroundings for each locals and guests. Kumamoto’s emphasis on these values has set it aside as a mannequin for regenerative tourism.
“Kumamoto City is a world-class groundwater city known as the ‘City of Water’ and provides 100% of its tap water through groundwater. We are undertaking the difficult mission of promoting tourism and MICE while protecting this vital water resource, and we are very honoured to have been recognised for these efforts. Kumamoto City will continue to strive to be an attractive and eco-friendly destination,” said Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto Metropolis.
Innovation Award: Copenhagen, Denmark, for “CopenPay” Initiative
Copenhagen, Denmark, received the Innovation Award for its groundbreaking “CopenPay” initiative, which engages vacationers in sustainability efforts by providing rewards for climate-positive actions. Vacationers in Copenhagen can earn incentives reminiscent of free excursions, kayak leases, and vegetarian meals just by choosing sustainable transport choices or taking part in clean-up actions. This modern initiative not solely raises consciousness however encourages significant behaviour change amongst travellers.
The transparency of CopenPay, which tracks environmental impression, has set a precedent for different cities around the globe. Fantastic Copenhagen, town’s tourism organisation, hopes that different locations will undertake related fashions to advertise accountable tourism on a world scale.
Fantastic Copenhagen, Director of Advertising, Communication and Behaviour, Rikke Holm Petersen Remarked: “Our goal with CopenPay was to create a campaign that didn’t just focus on raising awareness about Copenhagen’s commitment to sustainability. We wanted to influence visitors in Copenhagen to act more sustainably during their stay, just as we were hoping to spark new conversations around the world about how to take greener actions. We were blown away by the positive response that we received from both visitors and people and organisations from near and far. This reaffirms our belief that there is a genuine motivation among travellers and destinations to take green actions and that we need to tap into this commitment.”
Affect Award: Copenhagen, Denmark, for “Copenhagen Legacy Lab”
Along with the Innovation Award, Copenhagen additionally received the Affect Award for its “Copenhagen Legacy Lab” (CLL), which has pioneered a brand new framework for creating long-term constructive impacts from congresses and occasions. CLL encourages occasion organisers to work strategically with native stakeholders to make sure that occasions contribute not solely economically but in addition to native growth, significantly in areas like healthcare and sustainability.
The CLL’s open-source instruments and analysis have created a replicable mannequin that may profit cities worldwide. By specializing in lasting legacies relatively than short-term impacts, Copenhagen has demonstrated that worldwide congresses may be highly effective catalysts for constructive change.
Fantastic Copenhagen, CEO, Mikkel Aarø-Hansen commented: “We are incredibly proud of winning this Impact Award for our Copenhagen Legacy Lab. We strongly believe that international congresses and events are catalysts for long-term, positive impacts that go far beyond the immediate economic gains. And that we, as an industry, are obliged to collaborate and invest in redeeming these potentials, for the benefit of the destinations in which they are held, the international associations that have purpose as their core mission, and society at large.”
The Significance of the GDS-Awards
The 2024 GDS-Awards have highlighted the rising significance of sustainability and regeneration within the tourism trade. Every of the winners has demonstrated a capability to maneuver past conventional tourism fashions and create methods that profit not simply guests, but in addition native communities, ecosystems, and economies. These locations have redefined the function of tourism within the international context, specializing in decreasing environmental hurt whereas fostering social and financial well-being.
Man Bigwood, CEO of GDS-Motion, remarked: “This year’s GDS-Awards’ winners and finalists are redefining the role of tourism by showcasing its potential as a driving force for regeneration and social impact. We are thrilled to honour these pioneering destinations from Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond, all leading with innovative sustainability projects that are reshaping the global industry. These initiatives reflect a fundamental shift in how the visitor economy is understood and managed. They emphasise the power of collaboration to foster meaningful change, setting a new standard for others to follow.”
Go to Bruges Recognised with the GDS-Motion Companion of the Yr Award
Along with the 4 essential classes, the GDS-Motion and CityDNA Companion of the Yr Award was offered to Go to Bruges. This award recognises Bruges’ excellent dedication to sustainability, regeneration, and collaboration throughout the tourism sector. The town’s dedication to continuous enchancment and sustainable practices has set a brand new normal for locations worldwide.
The Way forward for Sustainable Tourism
The winners of the 2024 GDS-Awards haven’t solely raised the bar for sustainability in tourism however have set a precedent for the way forward for the trade. Because the world faces more and more pressing environmental challenges, the necessity for regenerative tourism practices is extra important than ever. Locations like Helsinki, Kumamoto, and Copenhagen have demonstrated that sustainability is achievable by way of collaboration, innovation, and a long-term imaginative and prescient for constructive impression.
The 2024 GDS-Awards function a beacon of hope for the tourism trade, exhibiting that with dedication and artistic considering, it’s attainable to create locations that aren’t solely eco-friendly but in addition socially accountable and economically sustainable. These trailblazing cities have confirmed that the way forward for tourism may be vivid, inexperienced, and full of alternatives for regeneration.
