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GSTC participated in the Greening the Islands International (GTI) Conference 2025, held from October 28 to 31 in the Reef Hotel in Gozo, Malta. The event marked the 10th edition of the conference, celebrating a decade of innovation and sustainability for islands worldwide.
The conference opened with remarks from:
- Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism
- Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo and Planning
- Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Public Cleanliness, Malta
- Mr. Michael Galea, President, Gozo Business Chamber
This milestone edition formed part of a broader, interconnected programme that also included two additional sections:
- The 3rd Edition of the GTI Observatory Summit
Held on October 28–29, just before the main conference, the GTI Observatory Summit took place under the theme “Scaling the Island Model: Advancing Global Energy Security and Resilience from the Climate Frontline.” - The GTI Awards 2025
Returning for its 9th edition, the GTI Awards acknowledge projects and initiatives that contributed to advancing sustainability across island contexts.
GSTC CEO, Randy Durband, participated in this 10th edition in Session 6: Innovative practices, nature-based solutions, and tailored policies for a sustainable tourism in islands.
The session showcased how innovative practices, the integration of nature-based solutions, and the development of tailored policies fostered a resilient and environmentally conscious tourism sector. The discussions emphasized how islands were balancing economic growth and energy transition with ecological preservation and authentic cultural experiences.
The session counted with representatives from CPMR Islands Commission, Sustainable Tourism Interreg Euro-MED Mission, REboot, EcoMedIslands, and ASCAME, and the European Union through the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
“We admire the work of the Greening the Islands organization. Islands face special challenges in mitigating climate change impacts and many of them are more reliant on tourism revenue than mainland destinations, and taking these two issues together compel our two organizations to seek ways to collaborate. We see this engagement at their conference as a first step towards collaborating to provide greater support to islands with tourism activities to support the green transition of their economies,” said GSTC CEO Randy Durband.
GSTC contributed to the ongoing dialogue on advancing sustainable tourism practices that integrate environmental and cultural protection, community well-being, and economic resilience across island destinations.
