Array
(
    [id] => 310
    [active] => 1
    [city_id] => 28
    [city_name] => Bergen
    [contact_name] => Magnus
    [contact_surname] => Brekke Nygaard
    [contact_email] => magnus@visitbergen.com
    [organisation] => Visit Bergen / Bergen Convention Bureau
    [website] => https://en.visitbergen.com/about/news/sustainable-tourism-in-bergen
    [environmental_description] => Bergen's ambition is to be fossil-free by 2030. This means that no fossil fuels are to be used for transport, city services or heating. By 2030 Bergen should have reversed the trend and reduced the direct greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 30% compared to 1991, and the overall emissions within the city by at least 84% compared to 2009. The goal is for the people of Bergen to limit their climate footprint in line with the UN climate agreement. 

The Bergen region is a world leader in green transportation. More than 30% of the cars in Bergen are electric or hybrid electric, which is one of the largest shares of electric cars in the world. Less emissions from the transportation sector due to electrification the last decade have improved the air quality in Bergen significantly, and Bergen is now ranked among the top 5 city's with the best air quality in Europe.  

The scenic Bergen railway was electrified as early as in 1964 and provides a green mode of transport from Bergen to Norway's capital Oslo, and skiing destinations such as Voss and Geilo. The popular round trip Norway in a nutshell, which pioneers the use of public transport for sightseeing, also makes use of the Bergen railway. 

Western Norway is furthermore a world leader in green transportation at sea. The regions many electric ferries and fjord cruises, means that the  largest share of electric vessels in the world can be found in Western Norway. Bergen is also a large cruise destination and substantial efforts have been made to reduce emissions from docking cruise ships. The Port of Bergen host the worlds largest facility for on shore power supply, which can provide renewable energy for three docking cruise ships at the same time. Bergen is the turning point for Kystruten, a popular coastline sailing along the Norwegian coast all the way to the northern town of Kirkenes. Havilia, one of two operators on the line, have recently started sailing with the world's most environmentally friendly ships, running on a combination of battery and LNG. With more than 90% of the electricity in Norway coming from renewable sources, electrifying our transportation system is one of the many ways forward for our city and region. 

Being surrounded by seven mountains makes Bergen a strikingly attractive, intimate and walk-able destination. The light rail and fossile free buses (bio fuel or electric) makes up the core of the Bergen's public transportation system.
    [social_description] => With a good universal healthcare system, low unemployment, equal access to education, tuition-free higher education and low crime rates, Bergen and Norway is on the top ten list for being corruption-free. Women have equal rights as men and are also well-represented in leading positions throughout the country. 

Norway enjoys a model of representative democracy and were ranked as the most democratic country on earth in 2021 on The Economist's  Democracy Index. Freedom of expression is a constitutional right and Norway was ranked first on the World Press Freedom Index in 2021.
    [supplier_description] => Bergen is regarded as an international congress city that hosts several major conferences every year. The city has 45 hotels with 15,000 beds and every type of conference facility that one could wish for. Bergen has four Conference and Convention Centers, and all of them are Eco-labeled. A compact city center ensures that most attractions in the city are within walking distance. The added attraction for the city is the nature based activities and excursions that the Fjord area can offer. Local transportation in the region can be done without any direct emissions.
    [dmo_description] => Bergen is situated between the fjords in the western part of Norway and is the second-largest city in Norway. The World Heritage site Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular, some of the most visited attractions in Norway, are just a few of Bergen's many attractions. 

Visit Bergen's ambition is to create a sustainable and profitable destination. The UN SDGs is the foundation of our destination strategy, with a special commitment to goals no. 5: gender equality, no. 8: decent work and economic growth, no. 11: sustainable cities and communities, no. 12: responsible consumption and production and no 17: partnership. Visit Bergen's aim is to make Bergen a better place to live and a better place to visit. Bergen have started the process to get a destination sustainability certificate, a project we expect to concluded by 2023.
    [logo] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_logos/VI7MoBI8UIlSOb7G4HAFEEDUqIPaeRvQsXxDU4zs.jpeg
    [video] => 1l68cEDvcv0
    [img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/NRLzqJ4DBQkfxeqjoPMQJiByCNREx0jcK1dtU6sR.jpg
    [img_2] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/KZmQYyQqvMY4HrZ1HimwOZwMVAWsZm2yz1DqV9zq.jpg
    [img_3] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/K6VxUDB0wRdMw7KuWM5F84wWaemVkIbTkemyz4Si.jpg
    [img_4] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/yYb5gOA8p8HgXBcZns4glB4GAB46f6MfOkrjhTKc.jpg
    [img_5] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/v10rJgC6vRzYIAIAhJPZsyyXCFArAydHUbMNnrJx.jpg
    [high_env_1] => 97
    [high_env_2] => 48
    [high_env_3] => 13915
    [high_soc_1] => 82.35
    [high_soc_2] => 92.63
    [high_soc_3] => 85
    [high_sup_1] => 56
    [high_sup_2] => 100
    [high_sup_3] => 83
    [high_dmo_1] => Sustainability vision and action plan established for events,Sustainability vision and action plan established for tourism,Multi year strategy (+3 years),Aligned to the city's overall development agenda (not just tourism and events),Aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
    [high_dmo_2] => 1
    [high_dmo_3] => We publish performance data on the DMO website,We include performance data in our Annual DMO or sustainability report
    [created_at] => 2022-11-09 12:01:55
    [updated_at] => 2023-09-23 12:02:08
    [year] => 2022
)
Array
(
    [id] => 310
    [year] => 2022
    [city_id] => 28
    [city_name] => Bergen
    [score_type] => city
    [Total] => 88.36
    [Total_rank] => 2
    [Environment] => 95
    [Environment_rank] => 1
    [Social] => 89.47
    [Social_rank] => 3
    [Supplier] => 88.73
    [Supplier_rank] => 2
    [DMO] => 81.2
    [DMO_rank] => 15
    [longitude] => 5.32205440000007
    [latitude] => 60.39126279999999
    [population] => 287428
    [country] => Norway
    [region] => Nordic
    [created_at] => 2022-11-09 12:00:25
    [updated_at] => 2022-11-09 12:00:25
)
Bergen 2022 GDS-Index Report
2022 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights
Summary
Environmental
Supplier
Social
Bergen is situated between the fjords in the western part of Norway and is the second-largest city in Norway. The World Heritage site Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular, some of the most visited attractions in Norway, are just a few of Bergen's many attractions. Visit Bergen's ambition is to create a sustainable and profitable destination. The UN SDGs is the foundation of our destination strategy, with a special commitment to goals no. 5: gender equality, no. 8: decent work and economic growth, no. 11: sustainable cities and communities, no. 12: responsible consumption and production and no 17: partnership. Visit Bergen's aim is to make Bergen a better place to live and a better place to visit. Bergen have started the process to get a destination sustainability certificate, a project we expect to concluded by 2023.
Bergen's ambition is to be fossil-free by 2030. This means that no fossil fuels are to be used for transport, city services or heating. By 2030 Bergen should have reversed the trend and reduced the direct greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 30% compared to 1991, and the overall emissions within the city by at least 84% compared to 2009. The goal is for the people of Bergen to limit their climate footprint in line with the UN climate agreement. The Bergen region is a world leader in green transportation. More than 30% of the cars in Bergen are electric or hybrid electric, which is one of the largest shares of electric cars in the world. Less emissions from the transportation sector due to electrification the last decade have improved the air quality in Bergen significantly, and Bergen is now ranked among the top 5 city's with the best air quality in Europe. The scenic Bergen railway was electrified as early as in 1964 and provides a green mode of transport from Bergen to Norway's capital Oslo, and skiing destinations such as Voss and Geilo. The popular round trip Norway in a nutshell, which pioneers the use of public transport for sightseeing, also makes use of the Bergen railway. Western Norway is furthermore a world leader in green transportation at sea. The regions many electric ferries and fjord cruises, means that the largest share of electric vessels in the world can be found in Western Norway. Bergen is also a large cruise destination and substantial efforts have been made to reduce emissions from docking cruise ships. The Port of Bergen host the worlds largest facility for on shore power supply, which can provide renewable energy for three docking cruise ships at the same time. Bergen is the turning point for Kystruten, a popular coastline sailing along the Norwegian coast all the way to the northern town of Kirkenes. Havilia, one of two operators on the line, have recently started sailing with the world's most environmentally friendly ships, running on a combination of battery and LNG. With more than 90% of the electricity in Norway coming from renewable sources, electrifying our transportation system is one of the many ways forward for our city and region. Being surrounded by seven mountains makes Bergen a strikingly attractive, intimate and walk-able destination. The light rail and fossile free buses (bio fuel or electric) makes up the core of the Bergen's public transportation system.
Bergen is regarded as an international congress city that hosts several major conferences every year. The city has 45 hotels with 15,000 beds and every type of conference facility that one could wish for. Bergen has four Conference and Convention Centers, and all of them are Eco-labeled. A compact city center ensures that most attractions in the city are within walking distance. The added attraction for the city is the nature based activities and excursions that the Fjord area can offer. Local transportation in the region can be done without any direct emissions.
With a good universal healthcare system, low unemployment, equal access to education, tuition-free higher education and low crime rates, Bergen and Norway is on the top ten list for being corruption-free. Women have equal rights as men and are also well-represented in leading positions throughout the country. Norway enjoys a model of representative democracy and were ranked as the most democratic country on earth in 2021 on The Economist's Democracy Index. Freedom of expression is a constitutional right and Norway was ranked first on the World Press Freedom Index in 2021.
Summary
Bergen is situated between the fjords in the western part of Norway and is the second-largest city in Norway. The World Heritage site Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular, some of the most visited attractions in Norway, are just a few of Bergen's many attractions. Visit Bergen's ambition is to create a sustainable and profitable destination. The UN SDGs is the foundation of our destination strategy, with a special commitment to goals no. 5: gender equality, no. 8: decent work and economic growth, no. 11: sustainable cities and communities, no. 12: responsible consumption and production and no 17: partnership. Visit Bergen's aim is to make Bergen a better place to live and a better place to visit. Bergen have started the process to get a destination sustainability certificate, a project we expect to concluded by 2023.
Does Visit Bergen / Bergen Convention Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Bergen have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Bergen / Bergen Convention Bureau report on its sustainability performance?
Environmental
Bergen's ambition is to be fossil-free by 2030. This means that no fossil fuels are to be used for transport, city services or heating. By 2030 Bergen should have reversed the trend and reduced the direct greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 30% compared to 1991, and the overall emissions within the city by at least 84% compared to 2009. The goal is for the people of Bergen to limit their climate footprint in line with the UN climate agreement. The Bergen region is a world leader in green transportation. More than 30% of the cars in Bergen are electric or hybrid electric, which is one of the largest shares of electric cars in the world. Less emissions from the transportation sector due to electrification the last decade have improved the air quality in Bergen significantly, and Bergen is now ranked among the top 5 city's with the best air quality in Europe. The scenic Bergen railway was electrified as early as in 1964 and provides a green mode of transport from Bergen to Norway's capital Oslo, and skiing destinations such as Voss and Geilo. The popular round trip Norway in a nutshell, which pioneers the use of public transport for sightseeing, also makes use of the Bergen railway. Western Norway is furthermore a world leader in green transportation at sea. The regions many electric ferries and fjord cruises, means that the largest share of electric vessels in the world can be found in Western Norway. Bergen is also a large cruise destination and substantial efforts have been made to reduce emissions from docking cruise ships. The Port of Bergen host the worlds largest facility for on shore power supply, which can provide renewable energy for three docking cruise ships at the same time. Bergen is the turning point for Kystruten, a popular coastline sailing along the Norwegian coast all the way to the northern town of Kirkenes. Havilia, one of two operators on the line, have recently started sailing with the world's most environmentally friendly ships, running on a combination of battery and LNG. With more than 90% of the electricity in Norway coming from renewable sources, electrifying our transportation system is one of the many ways forward for our city and region. Being surrounded by seven mountains makes Bergen a strikingly attractive, intimate and walk-able destination. The light rail and fossile free buses (bio fuel or electric) makes up the core of the Bergen's public transportation system.
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE RECYCLED
13915 ha
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
Supplier
Bergen is regarded as an international congress city that hosts several major conferences every year. The city has 45 hotels with 15,000 beds and every type of conference facility that one could wish for. Bergen has four Conference and Convention Centers, and all of them are Eco-labeled. A compact city center ensures that most attractions in the city are within walking distance. The added attraction for the city is the nature based activities and excursions that the Fjord area can offer. Local transportation in the region can be done without any direct emissions.
OF HOTEL ROOMS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF VENUES SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
Social
With a good universal healthcare system, low unemployment, equal access to education, tuition-free higher education and low crime rates, Bergen and Norway is on the top ten list for being corruption-free. Women have equal rights as men and are also well-represented in leading positions throughout the country. Norway enjoys a model of representative democracy and were ranked as the most democratic country on earth in 2021 on The Economist's Democracy Index. Freedom of expression is a constitutional right and Norway was ranked first on the World Press Freedom Index in 2021.
82
SDG IMPLEMENTATION SCORE
93
SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX
85
SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
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Destination

About the Global Destination Sustainability Movement

The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM) brings together the sustainability pioneers of the business and leisure tourism world, working with destinations to co-create their tourism and events strategies, benchmark and improve their sustainability performance and transform value chains in order to catalyse regeneration.

Our purpose is to engage, inspire and enable the business events and tourism industry to become more sustainable and regenerative.

 

Our Methodology

In 2022 the GDS-Index used 70 indicators that evaluate destinations sustainability performance across four key areas. If you are interested, you can read our benchmarking methodology in detail here.

Environmental
Performance

Climate, Energy and Emissions​

Circularity and Waste​

Water​

Air Quality​

Transportation​

Biodiversity​

Social
Performance

SDG Alignment ​

Corruption​

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion​

Health, Safety and Wellness​

Accessibility ​

Resident Engagement​

Supplier
Performance

Hotels​

Airport​

Agencies (PCOs & DMCs)​

Restaurants​

Venues​

Academia​

Destination
Management
Performance

Destination Strategy​

Governance and Reporting​

Policy and Certification​

Capacity Building​

Measurement, Impact and Reporting​

Marketing and Communications​

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion​

Ownership

The GDS­M is not owned by any one organisation. It is operated as a multi-­stakeholder partnership founded and endorsed by IMEX, MCI, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA). Gubi Consulting and Guy Bigwood are responsible for the management of the Secretariat.

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