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
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
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city in the north east of England and its DMO is NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI). Newcastle joined the GDS Index for the first time in 2023 to help kickstart the city and its DMO's sustainability journey. We are particularly proud of our Everybody Welcome project which is improving the experience of visiting the destination for visitors with disabilities and has provided training for front-of-house staff on welcoming LGBTQI+ visitors. In 2024 NGI and GDS-Movement worked together to publish a regenerative visitor economy framework to guide tourism management strategies across North East England. This was co-created with local, regional and national government; DMOs; businesses; residents; and other parties with a vested interest in the area's visitor economy. It is already being used by NGI, Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland to inform their destination management plans.
Does NewcastleGateshead Initiative have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Newcastle have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does NewcastleGateshead Initiative report on its sustainability performance?
37%
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
39%
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
627 ha
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
15%
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
25%
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
33%
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
