For the international travel trade, the result is particularly relevant as sustainability claims increasingly need to be supported by measurable and verifiable evidence.
Helsinki has topped the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS Index) for the third consecutive year.
The international benchmark assesses more than 100 destinations using over 70 indicators across four areas: environmental performance, supply chains, destination management and social sustainability.
Helsinki achieved an overall score of 93% in the 2026 index.
The result comes at a time when sustainability communication across Europe is facing stricter requirements.
The EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive increases scrutiny of generic claims such as “sustainable”, “green” or “eco-friendly”. Such statements increasingly need to be backed by clear and verifiable evidence.
For destinations and tourism businesses, this raises the importance of measurable data, recognised certifications and independent benchmarking systems.
The GDS Index is one example of such a framework.
One of Helsinki’s strongest figures comes from its accommodation sector.
According to the City of Helsinki, 98% of hotels with more than 50 rooms are environmentally certified. Helsinki compares this with a European average of around 10%.
The city also attributes its performance to developments in energy production, the growing number of certified tourism businesses and cooperation between the city, tourism companies, event operators and other partners.
For tour operators, verifiable sustainability information is becoming increasingly relevant when selecting partners, responding to procurement requirements and communicating products to customers.
A destination ranking does not replace an individual assessment of a supplier or product. It can, however, provide useful external data when evaluating how a destination approaches sustainability.
Helsinki plans to continue linking tourism development with sustainability goals, including stronger year-round demand, longer stays and continued cooperation with tourism and event businesses.
More on Helsinki.
Header: © Tuukka Ylönen