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.
Belfast launched its Resilience Strategy, the city’s first climate plan in December 2020. It sets out 30 transformational programmes to transition Belfast to an inclusive, zero-emissions, climate-resilient economy within a generation. As the city’s Destination Marketing and Management Company, Visit Belfast continues to play a critical role in supporting Belfast’s ambition through leading delivery of sustainable tourism in partnership with Belfast City Council and our industry. Visit Belfast’s ‘New Horizon’s strategy 2024-2027’ and 2024-5 business plan is focussed on enhancing our efforts to: - Grow the visitor economy in the Belfast city region in an inclusive and sustainable way - Position the Belfast city region as a front of mind destination for leisure visits, business events and days out; - Enhance the experience for visitors by showcasing Belfast city region as a diverse and welcoming destination with a unique neighbourhood offer and; - Sustain its approach to championing sustainability, pioneering powerful impactful initiatives, inspiring sustainable choices amongst visitors and clients – and telling Belfast’s sustainability story.
Does Visit Belfast and Belfast City Council have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Belfast have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Belfast and Belfast City Council report on its sustainability performance?
In October 2019 Belfast City Council's elected members declared a climate emergency and launched commitments that: - Council becomes a carbon neutral organisation as soon as possible - Belfast's carbon emissions are reduced by 80% against 2005 levels - Work would commence towards a climate adaption and mitigation plan. Co-Chaired by BCC and Queen's University, Belfast's Climate Commission was established in December 2019. This Commission was one of 3 city-based commissions across the UK (with Leeds and Edinburgh) to translate climate policy into action on the ground.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Visit Belfast and our industry are committed to working with event organisers and delegates to deliver responsible and sustainable events with purpose. Belfast offers Sustainable Choices toolkit and resources to help clients deliver more sustainable and impactful events in Belfast. We also have a Legacy and Impact Guide packed with established initiatives and partners across Belfast and Northern Ireland that can help business events create a legacy & impact plan that aligns with the organisation’s aims and objectives. On top of that, business events have access to a dedicated sustainability and impact manager to help support them throughout the event.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Belfast’s “Changing the Menu. For Good” initiative showcases how the city’s tourism and events sector is being harnessed to deliver meaningful social impact. Launched as a six-month pilot by Visit Belfast in late August 2022, the programme invites the business events industry to support local food banks and homeless charities through flexible donation options: contributing the cost equivalent of a fourth course, allocating a portion of catering fees, rounding up delegate or catering charges, or making direct donations. This approach aims to enhance the social legacy of business events and promote more responsible, sustainable tourism in the city. With the demand for food banks in Belfast having surged by 128% over five years, the initiative is supported by a coalition of industry partners—including Titanic Belfast, Hastings Hotels, and Queen’s University Belfast.
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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