The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.
The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.
Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.
This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.
The 2024 GDS-Index comprises 77 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.
Environmental
Social
Supplier
Destination Management Organisation
Environmental
Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.
Social
Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.
Supplier
Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.
Destination Management Organisation
Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.
Nestled in the South-West of Ireland between the signature visitor experiences of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork offers visitors an authentic experience, through our history, heritage, landmarks and landscape. Our reputation for high quality, artisan food and drink production, alongside a strong cultural, musical and artistic vibe, provide an extensive choice for the visitor experience. In order to preserve our social, environmental and economic heritage, stakeholders across the region are strongly committed to sustainability and the UN SDGs. Cork Convention Bureau (CCB) is the business tourism and events arm of the Visit Cork structure, which also includes the region’s ‘Pure Cork’ leisure destination brand. CCB seeks to lead the way for the tourism sector throughout the region, promoting and implementing environmental, economic and social sustainability programmes that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the sector.
Does VisitCork have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Cork have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does VisitCork report on its sustainability performance?
Cork is a place of dramatic natural landscapes, riverscapes, harbours, bays and seascapes. A place of mountains, river valleys and coastlines, therefore protecting our status as a ‘green’ region is vital. Cork Convention Bureau ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials. Cork City was recently named as one of the EU Mission cities that are aiming to be climate-neutral, smart cities by 2030. As part of this initiative, Cork is developing a Climate City Contract, which will include an overall plan for climate neutrality across all sectors including energy, buildings and transport.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
The Cork Convention Bureau aspires to ensure that all meetings and events programmes are developed through the lens of sustainability. We employ the GDSI regenerative event checklist when planning meetings, and our team ensures that environmental awareness is automatically built into the business and conference tourism offerings in Cork, highlighting a variety of local CSR activities (from hands-on nature conservation to forest exploration and citizen engagement) that can offset the impact of business tourism and cement an organisation’s global citizen credentials.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the tourism sector has a responsibility to act ethically and drive social innovation. In order to provide an authentic welcome, any reputable tourism destination must demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Cork City is the first and only city on the island of Ireland to have become a member of the International Rainbow Cities Network, that pledge to protect and enhance LGBTI+ rights and inclusion. Cork City Council was the first city and public building to officially fly the Rainbow Flag, raised by the Lord Mayor in 2014. Furthermore, Cork is a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. Cork is a safe and vibrant destination for people who enjoy the city at night-time, as demonstrated by the City’s ‘Purple Flag’ status, held since 2015. This international accreditation, awarded by the Association of Cities and Towns Management (ACTM), celebrates areas of excellence in the night-time economy.
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
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