Top 10 sustainable Destinations unveiled in a glitzy ITB ceremony

Top 10 destinations and other awards celebrate sustainability at ITB’s new award venue

At a relaxed and informative, colourful 90 minute event on ITB’s Palais stage  the world’s top sustainable destinations were revealed. Happy destination managers showed off their destinations in front of a big and knowledgeable crowd. There was even an interview with Albert Salman, Green Destinations President which highlighted overtourism and other destination problems and their solution. Randy Durband, CEO of Global Sustainable Tourism Council made a presentation about the future of sustainable tourism.

The ‘Best of the Best" of the Planet sustainable destinations were unveiled as:

Azores (Portugal),  Bali Barat National Park (Indonesia),  Clonakilty (Ireland),  Gozo (Malta), Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (South Africa), High Pamirs Mountain Region (Tajikistan), Jackson Hole & Yellowstone (USA), Lake Tota (Colombia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Mali Lošinj (Croatia), Podcetrtek (Slovenia), Santa Cruz, Galapagos (Ecuador), Slovenia Green, Destinations (Slovenia), Vail, Colorado (USA), Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)

Other Best of Award winners and Finalists are:

Best of Cities, Communities & Culture Award

Best Top 100 Destination showing global leadership in protecting its local culture and tradition, social fabric and sense of place, in involving its local community in tourism, and in avoiding human exploitation, human rights violation, and disruptive mass tourism (over-tourism).

First: Quality Coast Western Portugal destinations

–  Cascais, Oeste Region, Sintra and Torres Vedras

Second: Zuid Limburg Netherlands

Third: Tung Dap Village Thailand

Best of Nature Award

Best Top 100 Destination showing global leadership in actively protecting its scenic views, natural habitats and wildlife, and showing respect for animals, a basis for its sustainable tourism development.

First: Chobe, Makgadikgadi and Okavango Delta (Botswana) and Selinda Reserve (Botswana)

Second: Bison Land (Romania)

Best of Seaside Award

Best Top 100 Destination showing global leadership in offering water related leisure opportunities in agreement with the principles of sustainable tourism.

First: Dutch Quality Coast Destinations: Goeree-Overflakke, Schouwen Duiveland, Veere, Westvoorne

Second: Noja (Spain)

Third: Skyros (Greece)

The Earth Award

The world is dying – What are we doing? Best Top 100 Destination showing global leadership in combatting climate change and environmental degradation.

First: Kingdom of Bhutan

Second: Torroella de Montgrí-L’Estartit (Spain)

Third: Reykjanes (Iceland)

Best of the Planet

Destinations showing international leadership and innovation in responsible and sustainable tourism in different parts of the world.

Best of Africa Award:

First: Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda).

Second: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (South Africa)

Best of Asia Pacific Award:

First: High Pamirs Mountain Region (Tajikistan)

Second: Bali Barat National Park (Indonesia)

Best of Americas Award:

First: Vail, Colorado (USA)

Second: Santa Cruz, Galapagos (Ecuador) & Jackson Hole & Yellowstone (USA)

Third: Lake Tota (Colombia)

Best of Europe Award

First: Slovenia’s 23 Green Destinations including Ljubljana and Podcetrtek

Best of the Atlantic Award

First: Autonomous Region of the Azores (Portugal)

Second: Clonakilty (Ireland

Best of the Mediterranean Award

First: Gozo (Malta)

Second: Mali Lošinj (Croatia)

More information: http://greendestinations.org/best-of-top100-awards

/greendestinations.org/2018-top100

More pictures: http://www.facebook.com/pg/GreenDestinations/photos/

A bit more on a few Top100 Sustainable Destinations: http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2031360

Valere Tjolle