Copenhagen CVB named world’s first Green Tourism Organisation

Wonderful Copenhagen, the Danish capital’s CVB has set a new environmental standard as a Green Tourism Organisation (GTO). The certification was set up to support destinations and organisations that do something extraordinary for sustainability. Copenhagen is ranked second on ICCA’s Global Destination Sustainability Index and, as CMW reported recently, Wonderful Copenhagen launched its first strategy for sustainable tourism, Tourism for Good. It is one of the first strategy’s to address sustainable tourism from a both environmental, social and economic perspective. A key element of Wonderful Copenhagen’s strategy was to be a first mover. “We are really proud to be the first certified Green Tourism Organisation,” says Kit Lykketoft, Director of Conventions at Wonderful Copenhagen. It’s close to our hearts for tourism in Copenhagen to contribute to sustainable development both locally and globally and contribute to the UN’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals.” The Green Tourism Organisation’s certification was established by HORESTA (a trade association and employers organisation for the restaurant, hotel and tourism industry in Denmark), together with the NGO Danish Outdoor Council to support the destinations and organisations that make an extra effort for sustainability. HORESTA was also part of creating the Green Key certificate 25 years ago, that has now spread to 55 countries and 2.900 tourism organisations. To become GTO certified, organisations are assessed according to 140 criteria, including management, environmental considerations, requirements to the organisations use of utilities, and also for their efforts in focussing on sustainable tourism.