Barcelona, listed on the new world sustainable tourist destination index

Barcelona has been listed on the new Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), the first sustainability ranking for MICE destinations around the world. The city is taking part through Turisme de Barcelona and its Barcelona Sustainable Tourism and Barcelona Convention Bureau programmes.

　　(Source: www.barcelonaturisme.com)

The aim of the GDS-Index is to promote the sustainable growth of international MICE destinations, highlighting the best practices of responsible business tourism. The new ranking will assess sustainability in the participating cities from four perspectives: the cities’ environmental strategy and infrastructures; their social sustainability; restaurant, hospitability and convention centre services; and initiatives and strategies deployed by their convention bureaus.

The GDS-Index is an initiative launched by Scandinavian partner cities of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and Swiss consulting firm MCI. In addition to more than 25 cities in Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, the ranking also includes cities from around the world such as Barcelona, Sydney, Geneva and Stuttgart. The objective is to bring the number of cities to a total of 100 by 2020. The index is supported by the IMEX group which organises trade fairs in the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Congress and Events).