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.
In Horsens Municipality you feel the energy of the big city and the charm of the small town. The city is free from congestion, hustle and bustle. However, it is rich in art, entrepreneurship, soul, good food, music, green oases and cultural life. In the city of Horsens, you clearly sense its past as a prison and industrial city. You find award-winning museums, a newly refurbished centre with lots of shopping opportunities, surprising gable paintings in the cityscape, a very special creative urge, and nature experiences in the near vicinity of the city. Horsens aims to become carbon neutral in 2030, and a municipality, that operates within planetary boundaries and enhance and develop the municipality for its citizens and visitors. Horsens is a part of Destination Kystlandet, where we actively participate in the urgent mission to ensure financial, social and environmental sustainability in the tourism industry. Because, sustainability is more than just green energy and healthy economic foundations. To us, the sustainable approach also means to nourish a cooperative and responsible form of tourism that benefits the small local communities in The Coastal Land and democratically includes them in the development of our destination.
Does Destination Kystlandet have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Horsens, Denmark have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Destination Kystlandet report on its sustainability performance?
Horsens has high ambitions to become carbon neutral capital city in 2030. As of June 2023, 74% of the munipality’s hotel rooms have a third-party sustainability certification, with many more rooms currently under construction expected to become certified next year. Horsens Municipality is also known for its nature and outdoor opportunitets, where soft mobility is highlighted, and preferred by many citizens and tourists. 1,34 km of bicycle path per citizen. Just 2,6% of solid waste in Horsens is disposed of in landfills, while 76% of the city’s waste is recycled. Additionally, the city has low levels of particulate matter in the city’s air, at just 8 ug/m3 for PM2.5 and 16 ug/m3 for PM10.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Horsens is the perfect meeting place in the middle of Denmark. Horsens has a long history as an industrial powerhouse which you can still feel in the vibe of the city. Today Horsens is the home of many exciting companies and stories that can be used actively as part of your meetings and events in Horsens. The city is also widely famous for concerts with international artist. In Horsens Municipality you can explore the possibilities of creating wholly unique experiences for your next meeting, seminar or conference.s. A majority of our suppliers have placed sustainability at the forefront of their business. Thus, 76 % of the hotel rooms and 50% of the city’s venues are currently certified with a 3rd party certification.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Horsens as a the 8th largest city in a country that is listed in the absolute top of several rankings. For instance, Denmark is ranked as the least corrupt country in the world accordingly to the transparency corruption perception index 2019 (tied for first place with New Zealand). Denmark has also managed to rank top 2 according to The World Happiness Report 2019, rank 2 in the Gender Inequality Index 2018 and is the number 1 most gay-friendly place on the planet according to Lonely Planet (2019). Additionally, Denmark is ranked as the most prosperous country according to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2019 and amongst the top 5 most peaceful countries according to the Global Peace Index 2019 (GPI). In Denmark we have high level of welfare and healthcare. For instance Danes don't pay for hospital or education, and even at university level, there is no tuition fee. In fact every Danish student receives around 900$ per month from the state.
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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