Destination Stewardship Report

May – August 2025 (Volume 6, Issue 1)

The Destination Stewardship Report is a collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center, Center for Responsible Travel, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic world. Subscribe HERE.

Colorado: Making Tourism a Force for Good

Colorado’s spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery has long drawn everyone from families on a driving holiday to hardcore climbers and skiers. Visitors discover a state rich in history, geology, and nature, and they come in increasing numbers. The U.S. state has risen to the challenge with a collaborative, statewide destination stewardship plan that builds from the community level. Jill Corbin, Deputy Director of Destination Stewardship at the Colorado Tourism Office, describes it for us.

A Statewide Destination Stewardship Initiative Gets Underway

Developed with input from more than 1,000 stakeholders, the state of Colorado hopes to redefine what it means to be a world-class destination through its comprehensive Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan… READ MORE →

Helping Visitors Behave

As more destinations embrace sustainable tourism, travel pledges are gaining popularity as a simple way to invite visitors into the stewardship conversation. Purdue doctoral candidate in hospitality and tourism management, Ailin Fei, discusses what makes a good pledge and why they work.

How Travel Pledges Can Help Protect a Place

When you arrive in Palau, before you even collect your luggage, you’re asked to do something unusual: Sign a pledge. It’s printed right there in your passport, an official commitment to “tread lightly, act kindly, and explore… READ MORE →

A Framework for the Future from County Clare

In a complex, rural landscape like County Clare, sustainability isn’t just about protecting the environment—it’s about working together to protect a way of life. The lessons learned in Clare during certification may offer inspiration for other destinations navigating the same path. County Clare Sustainable Destination Development Officer, Fiona McKenna, explains the process, with an on-site anecdote from Cliffs of Moher visitor Rachael Vorster.

How the Ireland County Uses Certification and Collaboration for Destination Sustainability

When my mom and I drove into the Cliffs of Moher parking lot, I felt tourism’s pulse unlike anywhere else in the west of Ireland. The attraction had opened a mere half an hour earlier, yet morning sunlight pierced…. READ MORE →

Opinion – Tourist Taxes Need Thought

Taxing tourism has become a high priority for mitigating overtourism and climate change, but what can it achieve and who would reap the benefits? With the UN Oceans Commission weighing in and heated discussion in his native Norway, advising journalist, conservationist, and tourism consultant Arild Molstad reviews the current debate.

How Coastal Destinations Can Best Deploy Taxation?

As the problem of overtourism is hitting an increasing number of destinations worldwide, many countries seem to think that a tourism tax is the answer. Maybe so. However, the dispute over how to design a just and efficient tax…. READ MORE →

Travel Redefined: Tourism for People and Planet

A film series by the GSTC and Content With Purpose explores the potential of tourism as a force for positive global impact. READ MORE →

Tourists Overwhelm Wildebeest in Annual Serengeti Migration

Wildlife guide Nick Kleer shares a post showing how crowds of tourists disrupted the Serengeti’s wildebeest migration. READ MORE →

Two Winners from the Top 100

Every year, Green Destinations organizes the Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition, which invites submissions from around the world – a vetted collection of stories spotlighting local and regional destinations that are making progress toward sustainable management of tourism and its impacts. From the winners, we’ve selected stories from the Philippines and Slovenia. Synopses by Ian Vorster.

Filipino Farmers Help Solve Undertourism

Top 100 submission by the city government of Bago.

Agritourism to the Rescue on Negros Island

On the west side of Negros Island in the Philippines, the municipality of Bago – “Home of Historical and Natural Treasures” – is a 40,120-hectare agroecological region, rich with diverse flora…. READ MORE →

Creating a Dispersed Hotel

Top 100 submission by the Public Institution for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Ormož.

How a Slovene Destination Solved its Accommodation Problem

Tucked away in northeastern Slovenia, picturesque, vineyard-terraced Jeruzalem has become an ideal retreat for nature…. READ MORE →

Publications

Reports, Papers, and Plans
George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies, Coraggio Group. (2025). Destination Forward: Advancing Stewardship in U.S. Tourism Planning. Presents main findings of “largest national study of its kind” – examining how 35 local U.S. destination stewardship and management plans align with sustainability themes and influence tourism policy and practice. Exemplary initiatives and good practices.

World Economic Forum, Kearney. (2025). Future of Travel and Tourism: Embracing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. How governments, private companies, local communities, and travelers can address environmental challenges, equitable value distribution, and future global “polycrises.”

IUCN WCPA. (2025). Strengthening Sustainable Tourism’s Role in Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience. Authoritative roadmap for realigning tourism with conservation, equity, and regeneration to 19 global experts. Six case studies.

Door County. (2024). 2034 Destination Stewardship Plan. Long-term roadmap to tourism strategy, investment, and opportunities for community partners, business leaders, and municipalities. Provides actionable steps.

Books Note: Descriptions are taken from publisher blurbs.

Bricker, K. S., Kariithi, J. (2025). Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: From Principle to Practice in the New Millennium. Apple Academic Press. Case studies from around the world on nature-based tourism and sustainable development through tourism. Explores benefits of ecotourism, and importance of involving local communities in tourism planning.

Kumar, N., Zadeh, S. I., Naumov, N., Sharma, S. (2025). Solutions for Managing Overtourism in Popular Destinations. IGI Global. Dimensions of overtourism and strategies to mitigate it. Includes topics such as brand development, environmental conservation, and virtual reality.

Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. (2024). Responsible Tourism Best Practices in the Nordic Countries. In five countries, focuses on competence development and the role of the individual in responsible tourism and the importance of effective cooperation in responsible tourism.

Documentary series
Sustainable Travel International. Sustainable Travel: Where Next? World-ranging short-form documentaries explore sustainability initiatives transforming tourism.