Östersund Climbs into Top 40 List of Sustainable Destinations

Östersund has made a significant leap forward in this year’s Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI), advancing 16 positions. The destination’s sustainability score increased from 65.7% in 2024 to 72.7% in 2025, making it one of nine new destinations to qualify for the prestigious top 40 list.

Sustainability Rankings and Methodology

The GDS-Index is an international program that helps destinations measure, compare, and develop their sustainability efforts in tourism and events. The assessment is based on four categories aligned with international guidelines and standards, including UN global goals, GSTC destination criteria, and UNWTO guidelines.

Key Achievements

Notable improvements were seen in two critical areas:

• Supplier Performance: Increased from 50% to 61.5%
• Destination Management: Improved from 65.7% to 73.6%

”Last year we got a clear starting point and could see where there was the most room for improvement. Since then, we have worked purposefully with a new strategy, deepened collaboration with the municipality, and engaged our industry councils in important issues,” says Joanna Gustafsson, process leader for sustainable destination development at Destination Östersund.

International Recognition

Marta Mills, contact person for Nordic destinations in GDS Movement, commented: ”We are delighted to see Östersund’s impressive progress in only their second year of the GDS-Index. Moving from 52nd to 36th place, the city shows how the index can accelerate sustainability work, help inspire a new sustainability strategy and greater industry engagement throughout local initiatives like Glocal Hero Östersund.”

Regional Context

At the top of the sustainability rankings are Helsinki with 93.5%, followed by Gothenburg and Copenhagen. Östersund’s achievement demonstrates that even smaller cities can play a crucial role in global sustainability transitions.

Future Outlook

The GDSI results will serve as an important tool in developing Östersund’s experience and destination strategy targeting 2030, helping to set direction and prioritize future efforts.

The GDSI measurement for Östersund is part of the ”Better Tourism” project, funded by Region Jämtland Härjedalen, the European Regional Development Fund, and Destination Östersund.