2016 SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS GLOBAL TOP 100

Broads National Park the only English winner in elite global competition

Announced on World Tourism Day (also Global Green Destinations Day, September 27th), the Broads National Park joins a host of green-minded areas around the globe in a list that recognises commitment to value authenticity, biodiversity, nature, culture, community and the environment for future generations of citizens and travellers.

The Broads National Park is an internationally important wetland, an intricate maze of rivers and smooth, reed-fringed waters and home to the highest concentration of rare wildlife in Britain. The Broads Authority works to conserve and enhance the environment and nature of The Broads whilst helping visitor to understand and enjoy its special qualities.

The Sustainable Destinations Top 100 was unveiled on World Tourism Day and Green Destinations Day. The awards celebrate the efforts of tourism destinations' responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives.

The list is the result of open calls in newswires, social and business media. Destinations could be nominated by any interested party through a form that was available online.

Based on 15 core criteria of the Green Destinations Standard (below), nominators had to provide extensive information on the destination and on its efforts towards sustainability for the benefit of visitors, residents and the world.

Nominations were evaluated by experts of the Green Destinations Top 100 Team and by members of the special Top 100 Selection Panel, which included over 60 tourism sustainability experts.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria were among the filters and guidelines used in the selection process, and GSTC has supported and participated in the process. The Top 100 is an initiative of Green Destinations and five other leaders in sustainable tourism: TravelMole's Vision for Sustainable Tourism, Destination Stewardship Center, Asian Ecotourism Network, Sustainable Travel International, and QualityCoast.

Bruce Hanson, Broads Authority Tourism Officer, said: “This is a fantastic accolade for the Broads National Park and is a tribute to the hard work that tourism businesses have done to ensure that they operate sustainably.

They understand that a large proportion of their profit derives from the quality of the environment in which they operate and they know that they must look after it.”

Andrea Nicholas, one of the judges and co-founder of the Green Tourism Business Scheme explains: “The impact of practicing sustainable initiatives has been proven to generate greater economic benefits for the business, local communities and provides a more enjoyable experience for tourists by creating meaningful connections with local people.“The Broads is an excellent example of how commitment to sustainable tourism can have huge positive impacts and we are delighted that it has been recognised in this way.”

Green Destinations Standard – 15 Core Criteria

Sustainability coordinator - A person has been assigned the responsibility and authority for the adequate implementation and reporting of sustainable destination management.
Tourism policy -  The destination has an up-to-date, publicly available, multi-year tourism policy or strategy addressing all important issues.
Nature protection - The protection of natural sites, habitats, species, and ecosystems is effectively addressed and enforced. Nature degradation is addressed.
Animal Ethics -The use of animals in tourism is effectively controlled in order to decrease the risk of unnecessary suffering, disease, and death.
Landscape & Scenery - Natural and rural scenic views are protected and the sense of place is maintained; landscape degradation and urban sprawl is avoided.
Waste water treatment - Waste water treatment is adequately organised and relevant regulations are enforced, aimed to minimise impacts to people and the environment.
Solid waste reduction - Any solid waste is monitored, reduced, separated and recycled, and quantitative goals are set, especially regarding the reduction of plastic waste.
Reduction fossil fuel dependency -  Adequate measures and incentives exist to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to encourage renewable energy technologies.
Cultural heritage conservation - The conservation, authenticity and aesthetic presentation of cultural resources, sites and built heritage, is adequately organised and enforced.
Intangible heritage - Intangible cultural heritage and local life and culture, are adequately protected and respected.
Protection of people - The destination takes adequate measures to protect all people legally and effectively against commercial, sexual, or any other form of exploitation.
Inhabitants involved in tourism - Inhabitants are regularly involved in discussions on opportunities, challenges and sustainability of tourism development.
Promoting local products - The inclusion of local artisans, producers and service providers in the tourism value chain is supported; local and sustainable products are promoted.
Health & safety prevention - Crime, safety, and health hazards are adequately prevented and addressed.
Accessibility - Access to tourism sites is supported for individuals with disabilities, where appropriate, whilst not harming the sites and their sense of place.

Sustainable Destinations Top 100 Competition Directors
Albert Salman, Green Destinations foundation
Valere Tjolle, TravelMole's Vision for Sustainable Tourism
Jonathan Tourtellot, Destination Stewardship Center
Masaru Takayama, Asian Ecotourism Network
Brian Mullis, Sustainable Travel International
Randy Durband, GSTC, Special Advisor

Top 100 Selection Panel and Experts
Andrea Nicholas, Green Tourism
Andrea Dixon, Algonquin College, Canada
Andres Fellenberg van der Molen, Green Partner
Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, The Long Run
Antonio Pezzano, DMI, Italy
Arild Molstad, Destination Stewardship Center
Bel Kambach, St. Cloud State University
Edward Manning, Tourisk Inc.
Fabricio Scarpeta, WWF Brazil
Fabián Román, Fundación Plan21
Glenn Jampol, Global Ecotourism Network, GEN
Hamira Zamani-Farahani, Astaj TRCC, Iran
Herbert Hamele, ECOTRANS; DestiNet
Hitesh Mehta, HM Design, Florida
Hugo de Jong, Green Destinations
Jana Apih, GoodPlace, Slovenia
Jim Sano, WWF USA
José Maria de Juan Alonso, EARTH; Koan
Julie Middleton, The Travel Foundation
Karmen Mentil, Alpine Pearle
Leana Paula Bernardi, Blue Flag, Brazil
Lida Pet, PT Hatfield Indonesia
Magdalena Muir, IEELS; Univ of Calgary, Canada
Mario Hardy, Pacific Asia Travel Association, PATA
Marion Hammerl, Global Nature Fund; Living Lakes
Marloes Van de Goor, Earth Travel; IIAE
Martha Honey, Center for Responsible Travel, CREST
Mihee Kang, National University of Seoul, Korea
Mike Robbins, The Tourism Company, Canada
Monique Chen, Sustainable Travel Taiwan
Muhammed Nahar, Minla Strategy
Natalia Naranjo, University of Bogota, Colombia
Natasha Ilijeva Acevska, NALAS
Naut Kusters, ECEAT, Travelife
Paul F. Wilkinson, York University, Ontario, Canada
Patricio Diaz, ITR
Patrizia Modica, European Tourism Indicator System
Pekka Alhojarvi, Finland
Peter Prokosch, Linking Tourism & Conservation
Peter Richards, Thailand
Ramunas Povilanskas, Klaipeda University, Lithuania
Rachel Feng, Institute for Tourism, Shanghai, China
Siegfried Manzel, Green Guides; Mantour, Germany
Shannon Guihan, Bannikin; TreadRight Foundation
Sue Beeton, William Angliss Institute, Australia
Sonya Graci, Ryerson University, Canada
Susan Santos de Cardenas, SSTDI
Susana Inés Sandoval, Viajero Responsible
Todd Comen, Johnson State College, Vermont, USA
Uwe Sturmann, South Africa
Xu Honggang, Sun Yat-Sen University, China

 World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day raises awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.
http://wtd.unwto.org 

Further Information Contacts

Lorna Marsh, Broads Authority Head of Communications 0044 (0) 1603 756040
Lorna.marsh@broads-authority.gov.uk 

Bruce Hanson, Broads Authority Tourism Officer: 0044 (0) 1603 756030
Bruce.hanson@broads-authority.gov.uk mobile: 0044 (0) 7769 696117