Östersund Participates in Global Sustainability Ranking for Destinations
Destination Östersund is joining the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI) and its associated network, the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM), in 2024. This initiative will evaluate Östersund as a sustainable destination, comparing it with around 100 international destinations.
Östersund’s participation in this measurement is part of a larger effort led by Destination Östersund to drive the development towards a more sustainable tourism industry and create a better place for residents, businesses, and visitors.
A Common Thread in Sustainability Work
Östersund has made significant progress in sustainable development, with ambitious goals set by both the private and public sectors regarding environment and climate. The city aims to be climate-neutral, energy-efficient, and fossil-free by 2030. The tourism industry has already implemented many positive initiatives in environmental and social sustainability.
“To progress further in the sustainable development of the tourism industry, we see a need for joint strategic work where we all pull in the same direction. Using a framework for sustainable destination development has proven to be an effective tool in other destinations to create a common thread and structure in sustainability work. Now we want to test what it can do for Östersund,” explains Joanna Gustafsson, Process Manager for Sustainable Development at Destination Östersund.
Multiple Purposes of the Measurement
From March to May, the destination company’s staff will lead a data collection effort to compile documentation for about 70 indicators. The results will be released in the fall, showing Östersund’s position in the global ranking, its strengths, and areas for improvement.
“We are happy to welcome Östersund to the GDS-family and share the journey together” – Inge Krogh Larsen, Changemaker and Relationship Manager for the Nordics.
Glocal Hero Östersund
Participation in the framework’s network and ranking is part of a larger initiative for sustainable place development, which Destination Östersund is now launching under the concept “Glocal hero”. This builds on the already established Local hero concept used for Destination Östersund’s partnerships.
“Sustainability comes from within, and sustainable development is about constantly improving your starting point. Joining GDSI is just one step of many, but the message is that what we do locally in Östersund has a global impact, and we can all be heroes in our own context,” concludes Joanna Gustafsson.
For more information about this initiative and Östersund’s commitment to sustainable tourism, visit the original press release.
