The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) has unveiled its 2024 rankings, highlighting the Top 40 sustainable destinations from around the globe.

Sydney has achieved top 10 status in the GDS-Index, after being ranked 29 last year. It is also the only Australian city to be listed in the top 10.

Sydney achieved an index score of 83.13 per cent (up from 77.21 per cent last year). The city is also ranked second in the Asia-Pacific region and in the Metropolis category behind Singapore.

The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) said: “A remarkable shift is occurring in the Asia Pacific region, as several destinations have surged into the Top 40 rankings, underscoring an increased emphasis on sustainable travel.

“Singapore and Sydney emerged as leaders in this movement, securing the top positions in their region and reflecting a growing commitment to more sustainable tourism practices.”

The GDS-Index is a performance improvement program to assess and accelerate the progress of a destination’s regenerative journey. It measures, benchmarks and enhances the sustainability strategies, action plans, and initiatives of more than 100 destination management organisations, municipal authorities and their visitor economy supply chains.

The submission for the GDS-Index was completed by City of Sydney, BESydney and Destination NSW as part of the Sustainable Destination Partnership, which supports the event and hospitality sectors to do business more sustainably.

The ranking is a significant step for Sydney’s visitor economy, as travellers are increasingly considering sustainability when choosing holiday destinations.

Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report 2024 highlighted a significant trend toward sustainable travel. According to the report, 75 per cent of global travellers expressed a strong desire to adopt more sustainable travel practices over the next 12 months.

GDS-Movement CEO Guy Bigwood said: “The 2024 GDS-Index results show that the path to a more sustainable visitor economy is more critical than ever.

“As global destinations face the multiple pressures of climate change, inequality, and over-tourism, forward-thinking governance, transparency, and innovative practices will be the key drivers of lasting impact.

“The success of the Top 40 destinations highlights the power of collective action and a commitment to regenerative tourism.”

Learn more about the GDS-Index here.

Learn more about the Sustainable Destination Partnership here.