Helsinki Strengthens Its Global Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Practices
Helsinki has once again been recognised as the world’s most sustainable tourist destination, topping the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index for the second year in a row. The results of the 2025 index were announced on 23 September.
The GDS Index evaluates destinations across four key areas, environmental performance, supply chains, destination management, and social sustainability, using more than 70 indicators. Over 100 cities committed to sustainability are compared annually, and Helsinki has maintained its leading position.
“The city is investing in sustainable growth in tourism. Our aim is to make Helsinki a welcoming destination for a steadily rising number of travellers. Being the world’s most sustainable tourist destination for the second year in a row shows that our work for tourism and its sustainability is paying off,” said Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov.
Guy Bigwood, CEO of GDS-Movement, commented, “capital of Finland continues to raise the bar by defining the ‘next practices’ of regenerative destination management. Through bold climate action, pioneering sustainability strategies, and a steadfast commitment to transparency, the city demonstrates exceptional vision. Its recognition as the top-ranked destination in the 2025 GDS-Index – for the second consecutive year – is highly deserved.”
The achievement reflects collaboration between multiple stakeholders in the city. Nearly 99 percent of rooms in the city, hotels with more than 50 rooms hold environmental certifications, significantly above the European average. Certified meeting venues, tour operators, and conference facilities also contribute to the city’s performance.
“In addition to the GDS Index, Helsinki has also performed well in other international assessments of sustainable tourism this year. In March, Helsinki became the first city with over half a million residents to be awarded the Green Destinations GSTC certification, which has the strictest criteria in the world,” said Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director at the City of Helsinki.
“For the city, it is essential that sustainability is transparent. Sustainability must be more than marketing-level greenwashing, which is already demanded by EU legislation requiring environmental claims to be reliable and verifiable. This is why indices and certifications such as GDS and GSTC are important to us,” she added.
The number of international overnight stays in Helsinki increased by 19 percent during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to Statistics Finland. A large portion of this growth came from congress visitors, highlighting the city’s growing role as a hub for international events.
“International surveys show that a growing number of tourists are looking for more sustainable services and destinations. As a result, there will continue to be demand for the world’s most sustainable destinations. The capital of Finland, businesses and all tourism operators must continue to systematically invest in the sustainability of tourism,” said Vesterinen.
Helsinki continues to measure the carbon footprint of tourism, implement its climate roadmap for tourism, and support local businesses in their sustainability journey. Resident participation and well-being remain central to the city’s tourism development plans.
“We are promoting tourism with all areas of sustainability in mind, reducing negative impacts and increasing positive ones. The aim is for Helsinki to be a better place when a visitor leaves than it was before they arrived,” Vesterinen stated.
“Despite its sustainability credentials, Helsinki as a tourist destination still has room for improvement. Finding a balance is not an easy task, but we are doing our best. A large proportion of international tourists visiting the city arrive by boat or by air, the climate impacts of which we acknowledge. Accordingly, we are aiming to attract more and more tourists from Finland and neighbouring European regions,” she concluded.
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