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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.

Performance Overview

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.

Total

0%

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.

Sustainability Journey

Summary
Environmental
Supplier
Social

The Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau works to ensure that Kyoto will not only be a satisfying event destination for meeting participants, but that everyone in our city, including residents and industry partners can have a healthy, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationship with us as an event destination. Our goal is to attract sustainable meetings, reduce Kyoto's carbon footprint, improve Kyoto’s sustainability performance, and support traditional industries.

Does Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?

Does Kyoto have a sustainable destination certificate?

Does Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau report on its sustainability performance?

Since its founding 1,200 years ago as Japan’s first permanent capital, Kyoto has placed great value on sustainability and harmony with the surrounding natural environment, giving further significance to the signing of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming here in 1997. Our heritage is prioritized over aggressive urban development, and strict building height and advertising restrictions protect the city’s character and skyline. The city has excellent public transportation, several bike sharing programs, charging stations for electric vehicles, and is easily explored on foot. The city also makes it possible to hold sustainable meetings through a carbon offset program, a convention pass to encourage attendees to use public transportation, and a new program for traditional handicrafts that reduces waste by offering traditional handicrafts for rent as meeting goods or décor. In June 2016, Kyoto became the first city in Asia to join the Global Destination Sustainability Index, demonstrating Kyoto’s continued dedication to pioneering in sustainability.

16%

OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES

16%

OF WASTE
RECYCLED

4685 ha

HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION

Kyoto was Japan’s first city to become an international meeting destination. ICC Kyoto, where the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, is surrounded by greenery and has an eco-friendly certification. As a legacy of the Kyoto Protocol, Kyoto launched, Do You Kyoto?, a comprehensive program that involves all sectors of our community - residents, visitors, companies etc. – to protect the environment and help reduce energy usage and C02 emissions. Meetings and events in Kyoto can take part by using the Do You Kyoto? carbon offset program to offset their CO2 emissions, making use of the Traditional Handicraft Rental Program to reduce waste and support traditional industry, and providing convention passes to encourage participants to use public transportation. Kyoto CVB can also recommend venues, hotels, PCOs, and DMCs that have sustainability certifications.

13%

OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

40%

OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

18%

OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

Originally called Heian-Kyo, the "capital of stability and peace", Kyoto has been in the top ten of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City for 6 years in a row and in 2017, the QS Best Student Cities Index ranked the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area as the #1 safest city in the world. Meetings and events in Kyoto are encouraged to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage in the city, through a subsidy offered to help defray the costs of cultural activities, as well as a variety of excursion programs that allow participants to interact with the local community and culture while supporting traditional industries.

INCLUSION SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGESS INDEX

PERSONAL SAFETY SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGESS INDEX

SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX

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