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 2023 GDS-Index comprises 69 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.
Tampere has been involved in the promotion of sustainable development commitments and cooperation ever since the local agenda work initiated in Rio in 1992. Tampere committed to the local implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda goals in its City of Action strategy in 2021. The Tampere City Strategy lays the foundation for the city’s management and sustainability work. Strategy is based on recognised factors that will drive future changes, and represents the long-term goals of the city’s development from the present to 2030. Strategy's focus areas are equal individuals, active communities, climate neutral action and a pioneer of the future. In the strategy process, the key goals of the Agenda 2030 program were identified, and will be carried forward with the strategy's guidelines. At the same time city promotes the 2030 Agenda goals as a whole through city's strategic management system. Tampere compiled its first Voluntary Local Review on 2030 Agenda in May 2022. Development programmes are one way of putting the city's strategy into action. Examples of the major strategic changes Tampere pursues are climate neutrality by 2030, reducing the well-being gaps between its residents, strenghtening the experience economy and creative industries and sustainable city development through digital transformation. Visit Tampere’s goal is to minimize environmental effects of tourism and to strengthen the positive social, economic and cultural effects of tourism. We committed to achieving the City of Tampere’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon neutral tourism and events sector is our main strategic objective. We've signed the Glasgow Declaration Climate Action for Tourism. Our focus is in enabling a climate friendly visitor experience in Tampere and developing inspiring low carbon tourism mobility option and services together with companies. As a DMO we are part of Visit Finland's nationwide Sustainable Travel Finland programme and we actively promote it to our partners. The programme challenges companies to certify their business and provides comprehensive toolkit for sustainable tourism business development, marketing and management. Another important sustainability tool for companies is Think Sustainably service which is based on MyHelsinki Think Sustainably service. It encourages local companies to take steps towards climate-friendlier future and helps the locals and visitors to make sustainable choices. In addition to these we promote sustainability by training courses, events and communication with our partners and stakeholders. We see our natural environment, safety and sustainability as key elements of future success.
Does Visit Tampere have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Tampere have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Visit Tampere report on its sustainability performance?
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. According to the EPI2020, which ranks 180 countries on ecosystem vitality, environmental health and climate policy Finland is in the TOP 3. EEA ranked Tampere 6th in its European city air quality viewer 2022. Tampere is a green city of lakes and ridges. One-fifth of the city’s land area is green space, which includes forests and open areas in addition to built parks. Well-maintained green areas and forests are an integral part of the cityscape and improve the quality of life of Tampere residents. 24% of Tampere's area is water. There are several success stories of environmental protection, such as the purification of Tampere's key waterways and the improvement of air quality. Today 99% of waste is recovered either as material or energy, and only a small fraction of inert material is landfilled. Thanks to the bold nature conservation program, investment in nature conservation has been gratifying, and the recent biodiversity program takes us even further. A considerable amount of contaminated land has been remediated and stormwater management has been made an integral part of land use planning and implementation. Tampere will be climate neutral by 2030 and great effort has been put to decarbonise local energy production where renewables cover already 50 %.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Tampere has a Think Sustainably service, which supports sustainable choices in the city. It works as a guide for consumers to make more sustainable choices. It also encourages local companies in a very concrete way to take steps towards a climate-friendlier future. Companies can join the service by fulfilling a minimum number of criteria, which include, among other things, energy, food and service and social sustainability. Most congresses in Tampere are organized by or in cooperation with Tampere University. They promote sustainable development and global responsibility as part of the operating culture of the University, which is in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tampere Convention Bureau and Tampere Event Services are committed to sustainable events and consult event organizers on how to make sustainable choices in Tampere.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
City of Tampere uses a map-based surveys to understand well-being in Tampere as experienced by its citizens. According to these, the majority of children, young people and adults in Tampere are doing well. The quality of life and health of the people of Tampere is largely good, and they are satisfied with the services provided by the city and the conditions in their neighbourhoods. The City of Tampere is committed to making Tampere more equal. Equality and social sustainability are major themes in the city's cultural strategy. In Tampere, the initiatives for greater accessibility and equality include, for example, the Echo Card enabling cultural participation for persons with low income, and Tampere Junior reducing the inequalities in well-being of children, youth, and families. Participatory budgeting has also been trialled. The method allows residents to plan and decide how tax revenues will be used. As part of Tampere Region's bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2026, the EDAS Tool was developed. This digital platform allows cultural institutions and festivals to learn about equality.
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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