Discover the Inaugural Sustainability Leaders Yearbook!

Greetings,

Finally live - the first edition of the Sustainability Leaders Yearbook! This yearbook is a celebration of leadership in destinations that have made significant strides in advancing environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.

For this first edition, we hand-picked destinations that have been nominated and recommended to us for the positive impact they are making, by our panel of experts (see further below).

“This Sustainability Yearbook is a one-of-a-kind publication dedicated to inspiring, challenging our current practices, and inviting others to join us on the journey to sustainable tourism. It’s a chance to hit the refresh button.”

Peter de Wilde CEO of VISITFLANDERS

Includes special greetings from Natalia Bayona of UN Tourism , Christopher Imbsen of World Travel & Tourism Council , 高山傑 of Asian Ecotourism Network , Shannon Stowell of Adventure Travel Trade Association , Paloma Zapata of Sustainable Travel International , Catherine Germier-Hamel of Destination Mekong as well as Albert Salman and Felipe Omar Vera Soto of Green Destinations and Peter De Wilde of Toerisme Vlaanderen - VISITFLANDERS .

✍️ Featured Destinations in the 2024 Yearbook

Toerisme Vlaanderen - VISITFLANDERS , Belgium - Embracing the Travel to Tomorrow vision, Flanders reimagines tourism with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and forward-thinking initiatives. COVER STORY

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. - Spearheading community-driven sustainable tourism, Barbados engages visitors in environmental restoration, supports local businesses, and strives for carbon neutrality.

St.Kitts Tourism Authority - With a participatory approach, St. Kitts prioritizes collaborative destination stewardship and community engagement for sustainable tourism practices.

Eggental Tourismus | Val d'Ega Turismo , Italy - Eggental promotes soft mobility and local products, implementing the GSTC-Recognized Sustainable Tourism Standard to drive positive community-level change.

Aldeias Históricas de Portugal - Offering free electric car services, Aldeias Históricas de Portugal promotes eco-friendly urban mobility and reduces CO2 emissions for residents and visitors alike.

Department of Tourism - Bhutan - Bhutan's holistic national tourism policy demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to sustainable tourism management.

Destination Mekong - Through public-private partnerships, Destination Mekong promotes sustainability throughout the region and fosters inclusive tourism with purposeful marketing strategies.

Kara-Tunga Foundation , Uganda - Empowering marginalized communities, Karamoja Region focuses on biodiversity and cultural heritage conservation while creating alternative livelihoods through tourism.

Chumbe Island Coral Park , Tanzania - Chumbe Island excels in sustainable marine park management, advocates for responsible tourism practices, and leads efforts to eliminate single-use plastics across the archipelago.

And many more - dive into the yearbook to uncover stories, strategies, and successes of these destinations in detail.

Click here to access the yearbook (free download)

🏆 In Partnership with Chameleon Strategies

Sustainability Leaders United published this inaugural yearbook in partnership with Chameleon Strategies, a team of seasoned professionals with a passion for tourism and a wealth of industry knowledge, known for serving DMO CEOs as valued advisors and sparring partners.

Special thanks to Dr. Jens Thraenhart for offering strategic advice when developing the yearbook idea, and to Gerrit Kruger for Design.

🤝 The 2024 Sustainability Leaders Yearbook Nominating Panel

Let's give kudos to the group of leading professionals - our panel - who have nominated these inspiring destinations (not all destinations that were nominated chose to be part of the yearbook, but it does take a panel nomination to be included): Antonio D. Abreu , Brian Thomas Mullis , Audrey Scott , Carla Danelutti , Ché Greenidge , Gianna Moscardo , Gopinath Parayil , Greg Bakunzi , Kirsi Hyvaerinen , Dr. Jens Thraenhart , Maja Pak , M Cotton , Mariana Madureira , Paloma Zapata , Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada , Rachel Dodds, PhD , Steve Noakes , Vicky Smith , Vikneswaran Nair, PhD , and Xavier Theret .

Thank you for being a part of our community. I hope you find inspiration in the Sustainability Leaders Yearbook.

Happy reading!

Florian

Publisher, Sustainability Leaders United

🔗 Join the Conversation

Would you like to tell us about a destination that you consider a leader for its innovative approach to sustainable tourism? Feel free to reach out!

PS. Check out our Who is Who and Hall of Fame which feature the world's leading impact makers in sustainable travel and tourism.