Winning Stories | Green Destinations Story Awards 2023 at ITB Berlin
Green Destinations
Non-profit foundation for sustainable destination development, recognition, and globally accredited certification.
The Green Destinations Story Awards 2023 at ITB Berlin , held on the evening of 7 March 2023, witnessed an incredible cohort of destinations and tourism stakeholders celebrating together the most inspiring and innovative initiatives in destination management and sustainable tourism. Green Destinations congratulates all the winning destinations and extends its warmest gratitude to all the key partners and industry specialists whose support has helped us inspire the global tourism industry towards more sustainable development.
We are pleased to present a quick run-through of this year’s award-winning stories.?
Inverness Loch Ness, Scotland | ITB Earth Award Winner
The primary problem facing the Inverness Loch Ness destination is the rising concerns about climate change and tourism. To address the issue, the Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) has implemented a Climate Action Plan (Inverness Loch Ness CAP) in collaboration with VisitScotland and the Travel Foundation. The plan is committed to achieving various goals and targets to promote sustainable tourism in the area and encourage businesses to transition towards low-carbon living and become carbon neutral. The project began in May 2022, and while some data has been collected, it is still in its early phases. Over 400 members will benefit from the project; the VILN have applied for several awards and has been nominated to enter the Scottish Thistle Awards – Responsible Tourism Award.
Normandie, France | Governance, Reset & Recovery Category Winner
The Regional Federation of Tourist Offices of Normandie (OTN) collaborates with more than 60 Tourist Offices in the destination. Various territories in Normandie have acknowledged the difficulties concerning sustainable management and development. Taking into account the complexity of the subject matter, it was challenging to determine where to start. Thanks to a collaborative initiative of nine volunteer Tourist Offices and external stakeholders, OTN co-constructed the CSR reference framework and toolkit for the regional Tourist Offices to foster sustainable practices. The initiative proved to be a success, as more Tourist Offices are now receiving the desired assistance to get started on their sustainability journeys.
Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan | Nature & Scenery Category Winner
The Azraq Wetland Reserve, established in 1978, is home to a marvellous Oasis that has served as a significant stopover for migratory birds along the African-Eurasian flyway. Unfortunately, excessive water pumping caused the water body to shrink significantly, resulting in a dramatic decline in ecological activity, with the area covering only 0.04% of its original size. Through excellent management and inspiring efforts, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has rehabilitated the Oasis, increasing it to 10% of its original size while simultaneously generating economic and educational opportunities for the local communities.
Barbados | Environment & Climate Category Winner
The island faces several major challenges, including a limited resource base, severe weather from tropical Atlantic cyclones causing substantial damage to Caribbean economies, societies, and natural environments, and the overall impact of climate change. To address these issues, Barbados has committed to becoming carbon-neutral while preserving a protected environment, a stable society, and a sustainable and resilient economy. Their commitment is well depicted in National Energy Policy 2019-2030, which outlines specific measures to achieve carbon neutrality, including the expansion of renewable energy generation, the promotion of greener mobility, the improvement of energy conservation and efficiency, and the incentivization of decarbonization through various fiscal measures.
Ozu, Japan | Culture & Tradition Category Winner
领英推荐
The historic centre of Ozu has experienced a consistent population decline over the past few decades, leading to the abandonment of many properties. The way Ozu used to be inhabited for more than 400 years was in danger of physical extinction. To revitalize the city centre, tourism was chosen as the primary catalyst. Endorsed by the city council, Kita Management was assigned the task of implementing urban regeneration through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the city council and local stakeholders. In addition to promoting tourism, Kita Management was tasked with renovating Ozu's endangered built heritage. As a result, many homes and visitor lodging spaces have been restored to date. Ozu’s heritage preservation commitments have called the attention of both national and international media.
Bombinhas, Brazil | Culture & Tradition Category Winner
Bombinhas' local community, which had traditionally relied on agriculture and fishing, found new sources of income through tourism services. However, the artisanal fishing of mullet, which had long been a mainstay of the local families' livelihood, was no longer profitable. The long-standing tradition in Bombinhas was in danger of disappearing. To prevent this from happening, the destination took steps to protect this heritage. The efforts were featured in magazines, competitions and, cultural workshops, documentaries, among other things. As a result, the traditional fishermen are now pleased to share their knowledge with visitors and pass on this culture to future generations.
Huay Pu Keng, Thailand | Thriving Communities Category Winner
Kayan, an indigenous community in Huay Pu Keng, could not take full advantage of the potential income from tourism due to the lack of interaction with visitors. The community was only seen as a photo opportunity; the tourists did not get to experience the full potential of the community either. To solve this problem, the community received capacity-building training in topics such as gender equality, destination development, and management of tourism activities. As a result, over ten Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and their overseas agents now offer Community Based Tourism (CBT) activities in the destination, creating a meaningful experience for visitors and community members and resulting in high-quality, authentic workshops that bring satisfaction to both parties.
Royal Djurg?rden, Sweden (Green Destinations Platinum)?| Business & Marketing Category Winner
Royal Djurg?rden, one of the prime tourism destinations in Scandinavia, has formed a sustainability team with key stakeholders, including its 60 attractions, to address the challenges of the future in a responsible and socially conscious manner. The goal is to ensure that the island's cultural and historical values are well preserved while meeting the needs of millions of visitors each year. Through this initiative, Royal Djurg?rden has identified the main impacts generated by tourism, raised awareness, and has been able to set long-term sustainable goals. Royal Djurg?rden now has a united and strong tourism sector committed to a sustainable future.
Sagay City, Philippines | People’s Choice Award Winner
The local community of Sagay Marine Reserve had negative perceptions of government programs due to stricter conservation enforcement. Through social media marketing campaigns, the community was made to realise how important it is to understand and protect the natural resources of the region. This made the awareness of biodiversity increase drastically. The local community then also got directly included in the scientific counting of the species in the mangrove forest and was able to report a high increase in flying foxes in the area in 2022. These inspiring efforts were globally acknowledged through several recognitions.
Green Destinations appeals to local and regional destinations committed to sustainability to participate in the 2023 Top 100 Stories competition. The list of selected 2023 Top 100 stories will be launched at our annual flagship conference, Green Destinations 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia .
Register for the Top 100 Stories competition today! Interested DMOs, government, and institutional stakeholders can start the application process on behalf of their destination. Kindly visit our website to learn about the registration process.