A  P R O G R A M  F O R  A L L  D E S T I N A T I O N S

Before the unprecedented COVID-19 global health crisis that rattled 2020, destinations around the world experienced continuous growth but also faced associated challenges to their environmental, cultural, and social balance and sustainability. When restarting tourism, destination managers are expected to ‘build back better’: by avoiding the negative impacts of tourism and enhancing
its benefits.

Together with our partners around the world, Green Destinations offers the EMAS-ETIS-ISO 14001 global sustainable tourism inspired tools and  framework for sustainable tourism development by comprehensively assessing destination sustainability policies and practices, planning for improvements, learning from peers, and celebrating achievements with Awards or Certification. Our programs have supported more than 200 destinations in 60 countries to deliver responsible tourism.

Green Destinations Awards recognise progress in sustainable destination management, policies, and political leadership. Quality Coast Awards are specially designed for destinations focusing on waterfront sustainability, seaside, and beach quality.
Green Destinations Certification is the ultimate recognition for ambitious destinations aiming for full compliance with the globally agreed sustainability standards, assessed with an evaluation process.

In short, our awards and certification programs offer something for all types of destinations: large or small, new to or experienced in sustainable destination management. Municipalities, cities, islands, regions, protected areas, and private destinations* can apply; while countries, states or provinces can opt for our “Global Leaders Program” to collectively introduce sustainable destination management and certification to a number of destinations within a territory.

LEARN MORE about our work.

DESTINATIONS – NATIONAL, REGIONAL, and LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, Tourism Organizations/ Destinations. Bespoke Training & Capacity Building 

The objective of the Global Leaders initiative is to assist countries and regions to develop a comprehensive program to make their tourism sector more sustainable, following the successful models implemented by Slovenia, Estonia, and other countries, with outcomes:

• Create your own sustainability scheme
• Create and implement their own tailor-made program with the guidance of Green Destinations partners, advisors and ‘senior’ members of the Global Leaders network.

What are the benefits?

• Comprehensive program based on your own objectives
• Brand your own tourism sustainability scheme

PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION

We provide strong publicity and market visibility for our destinations, to inform travellers about clean, green and responsible destinations and to empower consumers to make well-considered travel choices. The Awards and Certifications are presented at our annual Green Destinations Global Conference and our yearly ITB Berlin event.
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These events provide our destinations international exposure and publicity opportunities about their sustainability achievements.

The annual Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition invites destinations to showcase their best sustainability achievements by submitting a ‘Good Practice Story’.Indeed, narratives and stories are often just as interesting for travellers as certification.

ACP destinations are automatically pre-selected to the yearly Top100 competition. After each award presentation destinations can organise a media event in the destination, giving the opportunity to present the result of efforts to stakeholders.
Award flags and banners can be displayed throughout awarded destinations. Visitors recognise and appreciate the commitment –
such displays enhance visitor appreciation and consumer ratings.

The Good Travel Guide website is our affiliate program to showcase destinations participating in Green Destinations Programs (Awards, Certification, Top 100). The Guide focuses on making responsible accommodations and activities visible to travellers by offering participating destinations certification for tourism SMEs : the Good Travel Seal and Virus-Aware Seal.

Support for Tourism Businesses

GOOD TRAVEL PROGRAM, GREEN TRAVEL GUIDE – FOR HOTELS, RESORTS, HOSPITALITY, TOUR OPERATORS. 

Support, certification and promotion of businesses in tourism and leisure

The Good Travel Program offers a variety of tools to assess, support and certify the sustainability of businesses in the tourism sector.  All types of businesses in the tourism supply chain are welcome, including hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, activity providers, tour guides, local DMOs, etc.  Businesses participating in the program are promoted on the Good Travel Guide sustainable travel platform to responsible travellers looking for a green, responsible holiday.

MICE CERTIFICATION – SUSTAINABLE FESTIVALS, GREEN MEETINGS
Learn ways to “green” your next M.I.C.E./Event (not to mention all those Festivals, Fiestas & Fetes). Book or learn the Sustainable Events Management  with CSR Workshops.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH – FORMERLY CSR  PROGRAMS
                                     “You make a living with what you get,
                                      you make a life with what you give.”
~ Winston Churchill

Support and communicate your corporate citizenship and concern for local communities in social responsibility initiatives.

NGOs
Provide partnership and support to local and international non-profit or non-governmental organizations in their  Sustainable Tourism & Development programs with facilitating tools and manpower.

OUTSOURCING SOLUTIONS

Partnership – Implementing Arm in the Philippines, ASEAN & Asia Pacific
SSTDI could be the partner of choice international organizations for the implementation of environmental, sustainability, green, other social responsibility programs in the Philippines.  Technical and expert assistance programs on environmental management, initiatives and collaborative undertakings, as well as training and capacity building.

Our Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development Inc.-SST offers Learning, Capacity Building, Educational programs, Green Solutions and Services for public stakeholders: Destinations – LGUs and host communities;  Private stakeholders – Hotels, Resorts, Hospitality, Tour Operators and Businesses with Green Destinations, Global Leaders Program and Green Travel Guide platform to include Environmental Conservation and Compliance, Good Governance, Climate Resilience, to address global challenges of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): food security, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability and climate resilience for the local host community. Water waste -STP (P.T. Amanaid Philippines) and Waste to Energy (W2E) solutions as well as other green destinations innovations are now offered to LGUs and tourism industry for law compliance.

For more information and assistance, contact us.