GSTC: Destination Stewardship Report, September – December 2025

The Destination Stewardship Report is a collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center, Center for Responsible Travel, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic world. Key Highlights from the Report:

Cape Cod Charter (2025 World Tourism Forum)
- Produced the Sustainable Transformation Charter, a guiding framework for tourism destinations.
- Emphasizes action on shared challenges like climate resilience, community engagement, and sustainable growth.
- Seen as a model for future destination stewardship conferences worldwide.

Tourism Taxes & Transparency
- Case studies from Oregon (USA) and Balearic Islands (Spain) show how transparent reinvestment of tourism taxes builds trust and ensures funds benefit local communities.

Scotland’s Stewardship in Practice
- Examples include sustainable tour companies, B Corp initiatives, and cultural heritage preservation.
- Highlights how everyday encounters (like with Highland cows!) can reinforce stewardship values.

Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya Site Goes Green
- UNESCO World Heritage Site evolving into a national beacon of responsible tourism practices.
- Focus on balancing heritage preservation with modern visitor management.

Community-led Marine Protection (OCTO)
- Showcases grassroots monitoring and enforcement strategies for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in small island/coastal communities.

Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories
- Thailand (Chiang Khan): Villagers pivot from fishing to cultural tourism.
- Brazil (Fernando de Noronha): Dolphin protection integrated with sustainable tourism.

Featured Publications & Guides
- Steamboat Springs Chamber (Colorado) – Destination Stewardship Action Plan (Nov 2024).
- Vienna Tourist Board (Austria) – Sustainable Tourism Observatory (Apr 2025).
- Travel Foundation – Where Next? A Global Action Agenda for Tourism’s Climate Transition (Dec 2025).
- Visit California – Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism Guidebook (Jun 2025).

Notable Global News
- Slovenia’s quiet tourism strategy.
- Hawaii climate tax on cruise ships blocked.
- Bahamas adds stewardship councils.
- Berlin rewards tourists for sustainable choices.
- Iceland rethinks mass tourism.
- Airbnb crackdown in New York didn’t ease housing pressures.
- Celebrity advocacy: Bad Bunny supports sustainable tourism in Puerto Rico.

✨ In short, this issue emphasizes transparency, community empowerment, and innovative stewardship models—from local villages to global forums—showing how destinations can balance visitor experiences with sustainability.