Uluru honoured in top 10 best sustainable tourism destinations list

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia - May 28th, 2013: Uluru in the Northern Territory, Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia.
By Christian Fleetwood


The World’s Top 10 Sustainable Destinations were unveiled earlier this month at ITB Berlin, in a celebration of international environmental leadership.

Delivered at ITB Berlin for the second year in a row, the Green Destinations’ event celebrates sustainability success stories around the world, underpinned by a jury of representatives’ selection of the global leaders in sustainable tourism from a pool of its 100 best.

Rising to the top of the ranks was a selection of the very best countries, cities and territories that had shown exceptional leadership and innovation ranging from bans on coral-reef toxic sunscreens, to implementing environmental responsibility pledges for tourists.

Receiving the prestigious ITB Earth Award, for the destination showing global leadership in combatting climate change and environmental degradation, was the Republic of Palau.

In 2017, Palau was the first nation to change its immigration laws with the introduction of the “Palau Pledge”.

In 2017, Palau made history by becoming the first nation in the world to change its immigration laws to incorporate the ‘Palau Pledge’, an agreement that asks visitors to swear to protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage.

Palau is also set to ban the use of sunscreens containing reef-toxic chemicals by 2020.

The Netherlands won the Best of Nature award unanimously, with the Dutch Quality Coast Delta celebrated for its active protection of scenic views, natural habitats and wildlife. The area – composed of Goeree-Overflakee, Schouwen Duiveland, Veere and Westvoorne – was also awarded for its respect for animals and animal welfare.

Dutch Spring scene with a windmill and colourful tulip fields under a nicely clouded sky

The Dutch Quality Coast Delta was celebrated for its active protection of  scenic views, natural habitats and wildlife, along with its respect for animal welfare.

Ljubljana in Slovenia picked up the international Best of Cities Award for showing global leadership in urban sustainability and avoiding disruptive mass tourism.

Ljubljana City, Slovenia

Ljubljana City, Slovenia

Fellow European city Gozo, Malta, picked up the Best of Communities & Culture award for its “leadership in protecting its local culture and tradition, social fabric and sense of place, in involving its local community in tourism, and in avoiding human exploitation, human rights violation, and disruptive mass tourism”.

Portugal was recognised as the Best of Europe for its commitment to sustainable tourism, while Tanzania’s Chumbe Island and Ecuador’s Galapagos National Park were crowned the Best of Africa and The Americas respectively.

The world famous Azure Window of Gozo island, Malta.

The world famous Azure Window of Gozo island, Malta.

Porto, Portugal old town skyline from across the Douro River.

Porto, Portugal old town skyline from across the Douro River.

Aerial view of the Chumbe island coral park, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Aerial view of the Chumbe island coral park, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The Galpagos Islands: the volcanic home to marine iguana, the giant tortoise, blue-footed booby and a range of animals unique to the archipelago.

The Galapagos Islands: the volcanic home to species of marine iguana, the giant tortoise, blue-footed booby and a range of animals unique to the archipelago.

In the Best of the Planet series, Uluru and Alice Springs picked up second place for the best in sustainable tourism for the Asia Pacific, just behind Nepal’s Bardia National Park.

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia.

For the local Aboriginal people, the Anangu, World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a culturally and spiritually significant place.

A tiger monitoring study has estimated there are 56 wild tigers in National Park, Teraï, Nepal.

A tiger monitoring study has estimated there are 56 wild tigers, six more than 2013, currently in Bardia National Park, Nepal.

The nation of Guyana, which hugs Venezuela’s south-eastern border, was awarded as best in class for its commitment to sustainable and innovative ecotourism. Guyana is the only English-speaking nation in South America.

Historic wooden church in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, South America. Guyana is one of the four regions in the world that make up the Green Shield, an area with 18% of the world’s tropical forests.

Historic wooden church in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, South America. Guyana is one of the four regions in the world that make up the Green Shield, an area with 18 per cent of the world’s tropical forests.

The destinations were selected by an international jury based on specific success stories and their overall sustainability. Further information can be found in the Awards page by clicking here.

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