The GDS-Index is a performance improvement programme to make tourism and events more sustainable. It showcases brave, bold, and pioneering cities, towns, and regions that recognise the urgent need to regenerate by working together to develop destinations where people, place, and planet can flourish.
In 2023, the GDS-Index experienced significant growth. 42 new DMOs joined the GDS-Movement, sending out a clear message about the will to change. Linear and extractive business models are no longer sustainable or relevant in the tourism industry. Cities and destination management organisations participating in the GDS-Index advocate for a regenerative and inclusive transformation, emphasising the need for new mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets.
The Ripple Effect of Collective Responsibility
With this GDS-Index report, GDS-Movement honour the trailblazing destinations propelling a sustainable and regenerative agenda. Their efforts, involving climate action plans, education, community engagement, diversity initiatives, and measurement create a ripple effect, inspiring further positive actions in their local communities and around the world. Vague environmental claims and greenwashing are no longer acceptable. Stakeholders, from legislators to travellers, demand genuine environmental and social stewardship. It’s a collective responsibility to act and bring about meaningful change.
“The evolution and results of the GDS-Index unequivocally demonstrate that destination management organisations can and do drive accelerated economic, social, and environmental transformation within their tourism and events’ ecosystems. With this compelling evidence, we hold the key to an optimistic future for travel and events. By amplifying our regenerative action plans and scaling them with urgency, we pave the way for meaningful change and progress.” said Guy Bigwood, CEO & Chief Changemaker, GDS-Movement.
With a wide variety of destinations from various countries and geographies the GDS-Index data is giving valuable insights into the sustainability performance of cities of varied sizes. 37% of the Index is comprised of large cities who consistently score the highest across all four categories. 29% are small cities, 21% are medium, 12 are metropolis and there is 1 megacity.
Gothenburg continues to improve and take the leadership spot for the 7th time. Oslo makes a big jump from 10th to second place as an impact of their improved strategy and implementation work. Copenhagen steadily stays at number three, and Helsinki comes in as yet another surprise at number four, up from 12th.
Out of the Top 40, 17 cities were from Western Europe, one city from North America – Montreal, and seven Asia Pacific cities (Goyang, Singapore, Songkhla, Melbourne, Sydney, Bangkok and Brisbane). New entrant Songkhla jumped in at a very respectable 23, which is testament to the work Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been doing over the years. Singapore jumped to position 18 this year, as is delivering on their commitment to become a worldclass leader in sustainable tourism and events.
The 42 newcomers are predominantly from small and medium-sized cities, collectively accounting for 22.4 million inhabitants. In contrast, the returning destinations, encompass a substantial population of 74.4 million. This big jump of new destinations was propelled by the great work of Visit Britain and Destination Canada which respectively saw 17 new Canadian and 12 new destinations from England join. Included in the newcomers are the three cities of Antwerp, Nyborg, Marseille who return after having taken a break from the GDS-Index in 2022.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
