Array
(
[id] => 205
[active] => 1
[city_id] => 90
[city_name] => Flanders
[contact_name] => Louise
[contact_surname] => Derre
[contact_email] => louise.derre@toerismevlaanderen.be
[organisation] => Visit Flanders
[website] =>
[environmental_description] =>
[social_description] =>
[supplier_description] =>
[dmo_description] => Our current tourism model is under pressure. We are facing over-tourism, climate change, health and economic crises. Boosted by the coronavirus crisis, there has been an increase in digitalisation. As an agency, we want to work together with all our employees and partners to be part of the solution and to develop tourism for the future. This relates to both the short term, where we will support our partners to come out of the corona crisis even stronger, and the long term. We are therefore investing heavily in tourism, steering the strictly economic narrative from merely ‘more’ to ‘added value’, and from return on investment to social return on investment.
This is clearly reflected in our ambitious vision for the future: We want to strengthen the role of tourism as a positive force, ensuring Flanders can flourish as an innovative, inspiring and qualitative travel destination for the benefit of the place, the locals, the entrepreneurs and visitors.
[logo] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_logos/CJv4GolCTtAzFf3JFcu1wnKiwRyhUNPWPVDKxLHx.jpeg
[video] => W6VwsGf0zQM
[img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/kr5Uwyk3dv2zhf7yo9LAsKlXsBLSQiPBywBSLDpJ.jpg
[img_2] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/ZKtni2PAVAlpqchgwN5j8OwyQBydJutWQUUoY3Bp.jpg
[img_3] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/lTbeK5QSG074FBnLXzr6zL8PNWfFA33lMcxbjcYB.jpg
[img_4] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/9Ba0SqTtD98ETJg6fIBir87tqqmALNSQYSM1HKOK.jpg
[img_5] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/hdT00V3w3F138XgCejyn7Mt9PCYYMR01jlAix1lL.png
[high_env_1] => 55.3
[high_env_2] => 66
[high_env_3] => 14
[high_soc_1] => 82.2
[high_soc_2] => 89.46
[high_soc_3] => 76
[high_sup_1] => 23
[high_sup_2] => 21
[high_sup_3] => 10
[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)
[high_dmo_2] => 0
[high_dmo_3] => None
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:01:40
[updated_at] => 2022-11-14 16:16:08
[year] => 2021
)
Array
(
[id] => 205
[year] => 2021
[city_id] => 90
[city_name] => Flanders
[score_type] => city
[Total] => 61.64
[Total_rank] => 38
[Environment] => 71.43
[Environment_rank] => 22
[Social] => 90
[Social_rank] => 3
[Supplier] => 36.25
[Supplier_rank] => 32
[DMO] => 53.79
[DMO_rank] => 26
[longitude] => 3.7264612999999827
[latitude] => 51.0108706
[population] => 6629143
[country] => Belgium
[region] => Western Europe
[created_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:36
[updated_at] => 2021-10-26 12:00:36
)
Flanders 2021 GDS-Index Report
Flanders, Belgium
2021 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights

Summary

Environmental

Supplier

Social
Our current tourism model is under pressure. We are facing over-tourism, climate change, health and economic crises. Boosted by the coronavirus crisis, there has been an increase in digitalisation. As an agency, we want to work together with all our employees and partners to be part of the solution and to develop tourism for the future. This relates to both the short term, where we will support our partners to come out of the corona crisis even stronger, and the long term. We are therefore investing heavily in tourism, steering the strictly economic narrative from merely ‘more’ to ‘added value’, and from return on investment to social return on investment.
This is clearly reflected in our ambitious vision for the future: We want to strengthen the role of tourism as a positive force, ensuring Flanders can flourish as an innovative, inspiring and qualitative travel destination for the benefit of the place, the locals, the entrepreneurs and visitors.
Summary
Our current tourism model is under pressure. We are facing over-tourism, climate change, health and economic crises. Boosted by the coronavirus crisis, there has been an increase in digitalisation. As an agency, we want to work together with all our employees and partners to be part of the solution and to develop tourism for the future. This relates to both the short term, where we will support our partners to come out of the corona crisis even stronger, and the long term. We are therefore investing heavily in tourism, steering the strictly economic narrative from merely ‘more’ to ‘added value’, and from return on investment to social return on investment.
This is clearly reflected in our ambitious vision for the future: We want to strengthen the role of tourism as a positive force, ensuring Flanders can flourish as an innovative, inspiring and qualitative travel destination for the benefit of the place, the locals, the entrepreneurs and visitors.
Does Visit Flanders have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Flanders have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Flanders report on its sustainability performance?
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED HOTELS
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED VENUES
OF SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED PCOS/DMCS
82
SDG IMPLEMENTATION SCORE
89
SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX
76
SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
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.
City Environmental
Performance
Climate, Energy and Emissions
Resources
Air Quality
Water
Transportation
Green Areas
Water
City Social
Performance
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Social Progress
Corruption
Personal Safety
Access to Information
Health and Wellness
Inclusiveness
Supplier
Performance
Hotels
Airport
Agencies (PCOs & DMCs)
Restaurants
Venues
Academia
Destination
Management
Performance
Destination Strategy
Policy and Certification
Governance
Capacity Building
Measurement and Reports
Marketing and Comms
Client Support
Accessibility
Generating Impact
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.