Östersund Ranks 52nd in Global Sustainability Index
In a significant achievement for sustainable tourism, Östersund has secured the 52nd position in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI) 2024. This marks the city’s debut in the prestigious international ranking that evaluates over 100 cities worldwide for their commitment to sustainability.
About the Global Destination Sustainability Index
The GDSI, established in 2016 by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, assesses destinations across four key categories:
- Environmental sustainability
- Social sustainability
- Supplier performance
- Destination management
Using more than 75 indicators linked to Agenda 2030 and international criteria for sustainable destination development, the GDSI provides a comprehensive evaluation of a city’s sustainability efforts.
Östersund’s Performance
In its first year of participation, Östersund achieved an impressive score of 65.7%, placing it at number 52 in the global ranking. Helsinki topped the list with a score of 92.43%.
Inge Krogh Larsen, Changemaker and Relationship Manager for the Nordics at the GDS movement, commended Östersund’s performance, stating: “Östersund has performed very well for a first-time submission and is doing better than the GDS-Index average, which shows their commitment to working with sustainability as a city and destination.”
Local Reaction and Future Plans
Joanna Gustafsson, Process Leader at Destination Östersund, expressed excitement about the ranking: “It is incredibly exciting that Östersund as a destination now has a starting point for joint sustainability work and how we stand internationally. It has been a team effort to gather the documentation to answer the criteria, and I see great potential in collaborating and learning from the other destinations in the network.”
Destination Östersund plans to participate in the GDSI again in 2025, aiming to improve in several areas identified in this year’s measurement. The result confirms that Östersund is successfully working with social sustainability and has the potential to strengthen sustainability efforts together with the business community.
Impact on Tourism and Local Development
Mikael Jonsson, CEO of Destination Östersund, emphasized the importance of this ranking for the city’s development: “We see the opportunity to use the GDSI measurement as a lever in the development of Östersund both as a destination and for those of us who live and work here. Visitors are becoming increasingly aware and demanding sustainable services and destinations to a greater extent.”
The GDSI measurement is expected to play a crucial role in shaping Östersund’s new strategy for experience and place development 2025-2030, contributing to the city’s goal of becoming a more sustainable destination.
