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Green Destinations โ Good Travel Community Newsletter |
๐ธ๐ฎ Green Destinations Global Conference 2026 Heads toKranj, SloveniaCall for speakers still open! |
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Registration is now open The Green Destinations 2026 Global Conference, will take place from 27โ29 October in Kranj, Slovenia. This yearโs programme will bring together destination leaders, tourism professionals, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to explore the future of responsible tourism through inspiring keynote sessions, practical case studies, networking opportunities, and collaborative discussions.
Call for Speakers We invite sustainable tourism professionals and practitioners to present their initiatives and best practices at GD2026. Through this event, we aim to foster collective, holistic, and sustainable growth within the tourism sector. We seek to explore key challenges, exchange solutions, and promote learning and capacity development among participants. Those interested in presenting are encouraged to complete the application form below. Selected speakers will be invited to join panel discussions as part of the GD2026 Conference Programme. |
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๐ข Discover Slovenia Beyond the Conference Immersive Local Field Trips |
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Participants of the Green Destinations 2026 Global Conference will have the opportunity to experience Sloveniaโs sustainability stories firsthand through a newly announced series of immersive local field trips taking place around the conference programme.
Designed to connect delegates with local communities, heritage, gastronomy, nature, and innovative sustainability practices, these carefully curated excursions offer unique insight into how destinations across Slovenia are putting sustainable tourism into action.
The programme includes experiences such as: Exploring sustainable urban innovation and circular creativity in Ljubljana, the European Green Capital Discovering cultural heritage and Michelin Green Star gastronomy in Radovljica and ลฝirovnica Visiting the iconic alpine destinations of Bled and Bohinj to learn about responsible tourism management Experiencing the host destination Kranj through its hidden tunnels, local culture, and sustainability success stories A two-day coastal and Karst journey featuring Piran, the historic Lipica Stud Farm, and the UNESCO-listed ล kocjan Caves
These field trips are designed as learning journeys that showcase practical examples of destination stewardship, local engagement, regional supply chains, nature conservation, and regenerative tourism development. From electric boat rides and creative upcycling workshops to culinary experiences and community storytelling, the programme highlights the diversity and innovation of Sloveniaโs tourism sector.
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๐ Green Destinations Award CeremonyHosted at WadNext Conference 2026 |
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We are pleased to announce that a Green Destinations Award Ceremony will take place on 8 September 2026 in the Netherlands, as part of the international WadNext Conference.
The ceremony will take place during the WadNext conference dinner and will recognise destinations from the Dutch province of Friesland (Fryslรขn) for their commitment to sustainable destination management and stewardship. During the ceremony, attendees will also be introduced to the renewed Green Destinations Members Program, including the Awards and Certification program framework, and a range of new tools and services designed to help destinations and tourism stakeholders strengthen sustainability performance, collaboration, and impact.
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About WadNext The WadNext Conference is an international event focused on the future of tourism in Europe. The conference is about coastal resilience, bringing together experts, policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and destination leaders to explore sustainable innovation, climate adaptation, nature conservation, and regional collaboration. The congress provides a platform for sharing knowledge and strengthening partnerships around sustainable development in one of Europeโs most unique coastal landscapes.
We are grateful to the WadNext team for providing this opportunity and look forward to connecting with partners and destinations in Fryslรขn this September.
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๐ Congratulationsto all newly and renewed Awarded Destinations! |
We are pleased to recognise the destinations that have recently achieved or renewed their Green Destinations Awards and Certifications.
Each destination has undergone an independent assessment process aligned with the Green Destinations Standard, demonstrating measurable progress across environmental management, cultural preservation, community well-being, and destination governance.
These recognitions reflect ongoing commitment rather than final achievement. We commend all participating destinations for their transparency, continuous improvement efforts, and dedication to long-term sustainability.
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๐ GD2026 Conference TrainingIntegrating Tiered Certification into Governance, Visitor Experience & Market Positioning |
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Drawing on insights from more than 200 destinations participating in the Green Destinations Awards & Certification Program, this practical pre-conference training explores the transition to the new Tiered Certification framework and what it means for destination governance, communication, and market positioning.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to move beyond sustainability claims toward credible, measurable action, while embedding sustainability principles into destination management, visitor experiences, and product development.
What you will gain: A clear overview of the new Tiered Certification structure and transition process Strategies to align governance, KPIs, marketing, and tourism product development Practical tools for credible sustainability communication and avoiding overclaiming Real-world lessons and proven practices from destination case studies around the world
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Storytelling for Impact: Global destinations prepare their Top 100Good Practice Stories |
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As the submission deadline for the 2026 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories Competition approaches, destinations around the world are finalising their sustainability stories โ sharing not only achievements, but also the real challenges, pressures, and transformations behind their journeys.
To support participants, Green Destinations has already conducted four storytelling workshops and masterclasses featuring experts, including award-winning writer Shivya Nath, Max Dubravko Fijacko (Interpret Europe), and Mayte Redondo (Travel2Care). The sessions explored how destinations can move beyond generic sustainability messaging and develop stories rooted in authentic local experiences and measurable impact. |
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What to look forward to? This yearโs new Story Discovery Scan is also revealing important insights into the tourism pressures that destinations face globally โ from overtourism and climate risks to the need to protect culture, nature, and community well-being โ while helping destinations identify the unique turning points that define their stories.
The 2026 Top 100 Stories will be officially unveiled during the Green Destinations 2026 Global Conference. |
๐น๐ญ Thailand Good Travel ProgramAdvances Sustainable Tourism Through Destination Audits |
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Recent audits under the Green Destinations white label Thailand Good Travel Program highlighted strong progress in sustainable tourism across three Thai destinations, alongside capacity building for emerging local auditors.
Key findings: Koh Tao: Strong focus on waste reduction, marine protection, and community-led sustainability initiatives, supported by active local collaboration. Uthai Thani: Rich cultural heritage and river ecosystem management, with strong community engagement and a growing sustainable tourism strategy. Mae Puem National Park: Important watershed area with a strong conservation focus and community participation in sustainable resource use.
Overall, the audits reflected strong collaboration between communities, government, and tourism stakeholders, with clear momentum toward more sustainable destination management across Thailand.
Green Destinations White Label Program
The Green Destinations White Label Program offers destinations and organisations the opportunity to implement a ready-to-use sustainability assessment and certification framework under their own brand. It combines international standards with flexible local adaptation, helping partners accelerate the development of credible sustainability programmes, strengthen destination positioning, and communicate impact with confidence.
The programme is designed for organisations seeking to scale sustainable tourism practices while maintaining consistency with globally recognised criteria and methodologies. |
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If you have interesting news about your destination's sustainability efforts share them with us! |
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About the Green Destinations โ Good Travel Community
The Green Destinations โ Good Travel Community is a global ecosystem of over 1000 destinations, tourism businesses, and independent expert organisations advancing sustainable tourism and responsible destination management. Within the Community: The Good Travel Institute develops and maintains sustainability standards and tools, provides capacity-building and advisory support to destinations and tourism stakeholders, and is the Secretariat of the Good Travel Alliance. Green Destinations Foundation operates independently as an accredited certification body issuing the Green Destinationsยฎ Certification label for sustainable destination management, based on third-party assessment.
Together, the community promotes transparency, credibility, and continuous improvement in tourism sustainability worldwide.
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