Aarhus secures 5th place on Global Sustainability Index
Aarhus has achieved a top ranking on the esteemed, international GDS-Index, which evaluates destinations based on their efforts toward sustainable transition.
There is every reason for celebration in Aarhus. It was just announced that the City of Smiles has reached 5th place on the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) among 100 tourist destinations worldwide. Last year, Aarhus held sixth place on the index, thus climbing up the ranks in this year's evaluation.
Additionally, the city has secured a joint 1st place in the category of "social conditions", alongside Aalborg and Copenhagen, and a 3rd place in the category of "environment".
According to VisitAarhus CEO Pia Lange Christensen, sustainability is a competitive factor when it comes to attracting both major events and tourists to the destination, and these top rankings benefit not only the city but the entire Aarhus region, she emphasizes.
"The impressive ranking is, first and foremost, a tribute to the dedicated work of Aarhus Municipality, tourism businesses, and VisitAarhus in both creating and driving sustainable change. It’s a clear competitive advantage that Aarhus positions itself so strongly in the index, which strengthens the region as a preferred destination. At the same time, it reflects the ongoing development across the entire Aarhus region, where sustainability efforts are prioritized through everything – from certifications to climate accounts and action plans," she says, adding:
"But we are far from reaching an end goal. At VisitAarhus, we continue to work tirelessly to promote and support sustainable development in tourism – and this strong ranking only enhances our motivation."
The GDS index is a recognized global ranking that ranks tourist destinations based on their performance in the categories of environment, social conditions, tourism companies' efforts for the green transition and the destination company's initiatives. The index is based on the 17 world goals and originates from business tourism, as especially international congresses and conferences use the index.
The GDS Index was announced on October 16, during the GDS Forum & CityDNA Conference in Bruges.