Belfast has climbed into the top 10 official list of sustainable destinations in the world according to the 2022 results of the annual GDS Index, which sees the Northern Ireland capital climb 11 places since last year to take the eight spot.
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) is a world-leading sustainability benchmarking and performance improvement programme for destinations and their visitor economies. Comparing data submitted by 65 destinations, the results offer insights into the trends and progress of the global destinations’ commitment to transforming their social, environmental and destination management practices.
Belfast achieved a score of 84.01% up 13% from last year when Belfast ranked 19th out of 73 destinations.
Gerry Lennon, chief executive, Visit Belfast said: “Tourism has played a pivotal role in Belfast’s growth, vibrancy and economic wellbeing in recent years.
“By working collaboratively and creatively, Visit Belfast and our partners and stakeholders have identified a way where the sector can continue to contribute positively to the city’s wellbeing, at a time when pressures from rising costs of living are impacting so profoundly on people’s lives.”
Other leading cities to make the Top 10 include Gothenburg, Bordeaux, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Glasgow.
