Published on
October 5, 2025
Canada has joined Australia, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, France, and more in 2025 as a leader in sustainable tourism, with its cities taking bold steps towards eco-friendly travel practices. This global shift is driven by cities committed to reducing their environmental footprint, adopting sustainable practices, and promoting responsible tourism to benefit both visitors and local communities. These cities are setting the standard for how tourism can positively impact the environment while offering memorable experiences to travelers.
For the second consecutive year, Helsinki has claimed the title of the world’s most sustainable tourist destination in the 2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI). The GDSI, developed by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, assesses cities based on four critical sustainability factors: destination management, supplier sustainability, social progress, and environmental performance. This year, the dominance of Scandinavian cities was unmistakable, with more than half of the top 10 cities hailing from the region, underscoring the area’s leadership in sustainable tourism practices.
Helsinki’s remarkable sustainability achievements played a pivotal role in securing its top position. The Finnish capital has committed to several groundbreaking initiatives, such as ensuring that 99% of its hotel rooms are sustainability certified and sourcing 54% of its electricity from renewable resources. The city is also on track to reduce its carbon emissions by 80% by 2030. Helsinki’s eco-friendly approach aims to balance environmental stewardship with providing tourists a high-quality experience, demonstrating that sustainability and tourism can go hand in hand.
In its sustainability strategy, Helsinki has focused on transparency and accountability, striving to go beyond mere marketing claims and ensuring that its sustainability efforts are verifiable. The city has emphasized the importance of reliable environmental standards, and it aims to ensure that every visitor’s footprint is positive, leaving the city in a better state than when they arrived.
Helsinki’s environmental commitments extend beyond tourism and include the city’s plan to protect 10% of its land and sea areas by 2038. This ambitious goal aligns with the city’s broader vision of maintaining its role as a leading example of sustainable urban tourism and ensuring that future generations can enjoy Helsinki’s natural beauty. These efforts are part of the city’s ongoing work to promote responsible travel and reduce the negative environmental impacts often associated with tourism.
Following Helsinki, Gothenburg in Sweden ranked second, while Copenhagen in Denmark took third place. Other Scandinavian cities, including Aalborg and Aarhus in Denmark, and Tampere in Finland, further illustrated the region’s dominance in sustainable tourism. The remainder of the top 10 included Glasgow in the UK, Lyon in France, Belfast in the UK, and Reykjavik in Iceland, showcasing a broad European influence on the rankings.
Europe maintained its stronghold in the 2025 index, with three-quarters of the cities in the top 40 based in the continent. This highlights Europe’s growing commitment to sustainable tourism, with cities across the region embracing green practices in both tourism and other areas of urban development. While Europe dominated the rankings, several cities outside the continent also made significant progress in adopting sustainable tourism practices. Singapore ranked 13th, Goyang in South Korea placed 15th, and Songkhla in Thailand was 28th. Japan’s Kumamoto followed in 33rd, indicating an increased global awareness of sustainability.
Canada and Australia were also well-represented in the index, with Montreal (20th), Quebec City (23rd), and Victoria (27th) leading Canadian cities. In Australia, Melbourne (11th), Brisbane (16th), and Sydney (25th) made notable appearances, reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainability within the Southern Hemisphere’s tourism sector.
The UK demonstrated its commitment to sustainable tourism, with Glasgow placing fifth, Belfast in ninth, and Manchester in 35th. Glasgow stood out for its impressive sustainability measures, including 97% of its electricity being sourced from renewable energy, as well as its progress toward meeting its 2030 carbon reduction target. Additionally, 100% of the city’s venues are sustainability certified, which has significantly contributed to its high ranking.
The GDSI ranking is an important tool for cities worldwide, setting a standard for sustainable tourism. As travelers increasingly prioritize environmental responsibility in their travel choices, the cities at the top of the list provide a model for how tourism and sustainability can coexist. These cities are demonstrating that it’s possible to reduce the negative impacts of tourism while enhancing the overall experience for visitors, proving that sustainability is not just a trend, but a necessary component of the future of travel.
Canada has joined Australia, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, France, and more in 2025 as a leader in sustainable tourism, with cities championing eco-friendly travel practices to set new global standards.
In conclusion, the 2025 GDSI serves as a powerful reminder that cities have the ability and responsibility to shape the future of tourism. By embracing sustainable practices in all areas of urban life, these cities are not only contributing to the health of the planet but also enhancing the quality of life for both residents and visitors. As global tourism continues to grow, these cities are leading the way in demonstrating that a sustainable future for travel is within reach.
