Tourisme Montréal Tops Global Destination Sustainability Index, Enters Top 10
Event summary
- Tourisme Montréal ranked No. 1 worldwide in destination management in the 2026 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) with a record score of 98%.
- Montréal jumped from 20th to 9th place globally among 81 participating destinations, entering the global Top 10 of the world's most sustainable destinations.
- This is the first time a city outside Europe has ranked first in the GDS-Index's destination management category.
- Over the past two years, 17 organizations obtained GSTC-recognized certification, and 400+ stakeholders participated in socio-ecological transition initiatives.
- Tourisme Montréal recovered over 200,000 food portions through partnerships aimed at reducing food waste.
The big picture
Tourisme Montréal's top ranking highlights a growing trend of cities prioritizing sustainable tourism beyond environmental factors, focusing on social and economic impacts. This strategic shift aligns with increasing global demand for responsible travel and could set a new benchmark for destination management. The city's success may also attract more international events and visitors, further boosting its economic prospects.
What we're watching
- Sustainability Leadership
- Whether Tourisme Montréal can maintain its top ranking and influence other non-European destinations to adopt similar sustainability practices.
- Certification Expansion
- The pace at which Tourisme Montréal can expand its GSTC-recognized certifications among local tourism businesses.
- Economic Impact
- How Montréal's Top 10 ranking will affect tourism-related economic benefits and long-term urban development.
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