Sustainable destination management, where should you start?

Sustainable destination management is as much a necessity as it is challenging. A destination is a very complex ecosystems composed of multiple stakeholders that can sometimes have competing interests. Organisation, cooperation, collaboration, consideration of all stakeholders and effective systems for measuring and monitoring are essential. Sustainable destination management is not a target to achieve, it is a journey and ever evolving. A destination can never truly be sustainable, but some are getting pretty close! 

Here is where you should start:

These steps are appropriate for everyone. For those just starting on their journey, they will provide a structure, identifying the first aspects of sustainable destination management they should focus on. For those that already are further along in their journey, they will allow to check that you haven’t missed anything along the way and that you fulfil, indeed, the basics of sustainability performance.

1. Sustainable destination coordinator
2. Inventory of destination assets
3. Destination management policy or strategy
4. Responding to tourism impacts on nature
5. Landscape & Scenery
6. Solid waste reduction
7. Reducing transport emissions from travel
8. Reducing energy consumption
9. Tangible cultural heritage
10. Intangible heritage
11. Community involvement in planning
12. Supporting local entrepreneurs
13. Promoting local products and services
14. Health & safety
15. Promoting sustainability among enterprises

Find out more about each of these guidelines, along with examples, good practices and small case studies in our First steps towards sustainable destination management e-book!

We hope this helps and stay tuned to discover the next steps you can take to continue your journey.

Should you need further guidance on these steps, contact Louise de Hemmer: louise@greendestinations.org