Helsinki Achieves Green Destinations Certificate Meeting the World's Strictest Criteria

Helsinki receives the Green Destinations GSTC certificate, which meets the strictest

criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for a sustainable travel

destination. Achieving it essentially requires full compliance with the criteria.*

There are over 280 items in the GSTC criteria that cover all areas of sustainability. The

criteria examine operations from the perspectives of environmental, cultural, social and

economic sustainability and sustainable governance.

 

Certificate demonstrates Helsinki’s commitment to promoting sustainability in every

area

Created in 2007, the GSTC criteria have been developed in cooperation with the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation (UN

Foundation), the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Rainforest

Alliance, among others.

 

“This is a major achievement. It demonstrates Helsinki's exceptionally high commitment to

promoting sustainability in all its areas,” says Tourism Director Nina Vesterinen from the

City of Helsinki.

 

The Helsinki City Strategy for 2021 outlines that the goal is to be the most sustainable

travel destination in the world. In the autumn of 2024, Helsinki reached the top position in

the Global Destination Sustainability Index, which measures the sustainability of travel

destinations. With this achievement and the world's strictest travel destination certificate,

Helsinki could not be closer to achieving its goal.

 

Years-long focus on sustainability by the city and the travel industry

“Finland has been selected as the happiest country in the world for seven consecutive

years. Its capital Helsinki has been a pioneer in sustainable urban development for years,

as evidenced by several top positions in various sustainability indices. Helsinki may have

the best global foundation for sustainable tourism, but the entire travel industry also

deserves a big thank you for their role in achieving this,” Vesterinen continues.

Most hotel rooms in Helsinki are environmentally certified. Its travel attractions, meeting

and congress facilities and other tourism operators are also world leaders when it comes

to investment in sustainable tourism.

 

EU prepares to curb misleading green claims – certifications important for Helsinki

The European Union is working to tighten its legislation on environmental claims. Its aim is

to prevent misleading greenwashing and to ensure that environmental claims made to

consumers are based on reliable and verified information. New rules will require

companies to provide more detailed justifications for environmental friendliness, which will

boost transparency and help consumers make more sustainable choices.

“For that very reason, Helsinki makes every effort to prove the veracity of its sustainability

work. This is why the Global Destination Sustainability Index and Green Destinations

certificate are important,” Vesterinen points out.