Destination Stewardship Report

September – December 2025 (Volume 6, Issue 2)

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.

Cape Cod Charter

The 2025 World Tourism Forum, held late last year on Cape Cod, USA, yielded a remarkable document: the Sustainable Transformation Charter (a.k.a.”The Cape Cod Charter”). Despite the name “Tourism Forum,” conference participation reached well beyond the walls of the tourism industry into the very fabric of this popular, developed destination.

The resulting document pertains to many such destinations. The Charter calls for action on issues and challenges common to all, offering guidance viewed through multiple lenses. This final Forum, organized by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and Care for the Cape and Islands, represented nothing less than a true destination stewardship conference. It stands as a model for similar gatherings to come, anywhere in the world.

Herewith, the Charter in its entirety, with an introduction on how it came to pass.

The Sustainable Transformation Charter: A Guiding Framework for Tourism Destinations

From 4–6 November 2025, an unconventional sustainability-themed conference took place on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA). Called the World Tourism Forum, it turned out to be about much more…. READ MORE →

Where the Taxes Go: Making Tourism’s Reinvestment Transparent

As more destinations wrestle with the pressures of growth, a simple idea is gaining traction: Show visitors where their money goes. From sustainability funds in Oregon, USA, to tourism taxes in Spain’s Balearic Islands, transparency around this income is helping destinations build trust, manage demand, and ensure that tourism dollars truly work for local communities. This transparency isn’t just good governance or good storytelling; it’s a cornerstone of destination stewardship. Ailin Fei, Hospitality and Tourism Management PhD Candidate at Purdue University and Research Manager at Visit Austin, explains.

Does the Tourism Tax Actually Care for the Place Tourists Come to Enjoy? Maybe.

Every year, travelers spend billions of dollars in destinations around the world. They stay in accommodations, enjoy meals, buy tickets to attractions, and pay for the taxes tucked quietly into the fine print. But how much of that…. READ MORE →

A Visitor’s Take on Scottish Destination Stewardship

The name of Scotland comes up frequently in matters of sustainability and good destination stewardship. While on holiday there, Executive Editor Jonathan Tourtellot kept an eye out for examples. This is what he found, with all photography thanks to him.

Cows, trees, and a B Corp tour company all have sustainability stories to tell. Kelpies, too.

From the hair-shrouded face emerges a tongue wide as the palm of my hand and with the texture of a carpenter’s rasp. It curls around the treat I am offering. For a suburban-raised American like me, this first up-close encounter with a Highland cow makes for a take-home memory. The ginger-colored shaggy coat, handle bar horns… READ MORE →

Famed Sri Lanka Site Goes Green

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 and referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s most visited destinations. The Sustainable Tourism Unit of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority explains how the destination is evolving into a national beacon for responsible practices in tourism businesses.

Sigiriya strives to become a national citadel of best business behavior

Long before modern travelers arrived at its gates, the ancient rock-top fortress called Sigiriya was a royal citadel and monastery. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, Sigiriya has been recognized for its unparalleled…. READ MORE →

OCTO: Community-led Monitoring for MPAs

Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO) is a US-based NGO that connects thousands of ocean professionals to the knowledge and networks they need, empowering conservationists and resource managers to apply best practices worldwide. OCTO’s online communities share practical “how-to” knowledge in response to member questions. A member recently asked the OCTO community about community-led approaches to monitoring and enforcement for marine protected areas (MPAs) in small island or coastal communities. Tourism and MPA conservation are often closely interwoven, directly and indirectly, for better or worse.

Read responses from OCTO members

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 Thailand and Brazil. Synopses by Mackenzie Morrow & Ailin Fei.

Sponsored by:

Executive Editor – Jonathan B. Tourtellot
Scheduling, design & distribution – Tiffany Chan
Managing Editor – Ian Vorster
Editorial Assistance – Wendy Li, Ellen Rugh, Paula Lewis,
Wes Espinosa, Michele Archie, Jill Talladay, Chi Lo
DSC Webmaster – Tim Greenleaf