Sustainability Assessment of Destinations: The Questions of I-DEST and GSTC–SDG Connections

The I-DEST self-assessment and monitoring of destinations supports this process. Based on available data and documents, it provides an overview of existing practices, data gaps, and areas where further development is needed.

Innotime is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). In our work, we rely on GSTC auditor experience as well as preparation and auditing expertise from Green Destinations. The professional reference points for the I-DEST destination assessment are the GSTC destination standard and the Green Destinations destination standard.

There is a natural overlap between the topics related to the two standards: the Green Destinations standard also aligns with the GSTC's international requirements. I-DEST applies these perspectives in its own data collection and evaluation methodology, serving as a system to support practical decisions for destinations. The assessment helps a destination understand the tasks ahead on the path to more sustainable operations and, if applicable, towards international recognition or certification.

The assessment covers six interconnected areas.

We examine how tourism is organised and managed: whether there are responsible stakeholders, strategies, collaborations, and regularly monitored goals. This also includes managing visitor pressure and monitoring the impact of tourism on the destination.

This area focuses on the protection of natural values, habitats, species, and landscapes. The assessment also examines how the adverse effects of tourism on nature are prevented or managed.

We review water and energy management, waste management, the environmental impact of transport, and adaptation to climate change, among other aspects. The goal is to make both plans and available data, as well as implemented measures, visible.

We assess the preservation of built and intangible cultural heritage, the presentation of local traditions, and how tourism collaborates with communities that carry cultural values.

Tourism also impacts the lives of locals. Therefore, we address community participation, local economic opportunities, accessibility, working conditions, and the safety of residents and visitors.

We review how tourism businesses are involved in more sustainable operations and what information visitors receive. Accurate communication is particularly important here: claims made about a destination must reflect what has actually been achieved and can be substantiated.

I-DEST links the examined areas to the GSTC destination criteria and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This helps place local achievements within the context of international sustainable tourism perspectives. The connection is a professional alignment: it does not automatically mean that the destination meets all the requirements of a standard or has obtained certification.

The data presented in I-DEST must always be interpreted in relation to the specified destination and time period. Where results or specific practices are published, we indicate the source and status of the information: whether it was provided by the destination, verified by I-DEST, or based on certification issued by an independent certifying body.

Data provided by the destination, documents reviewed by I-DEST, and independent certification carry different evidentiary weights. This distinction is maintained in public presentations. If data is unavailable, it is not automatically considered poor performance; it is indicated as a data gap.

The detailed questionnaire, assessment rules, and background documents are part of I-DEST's internal methodology. The purpose of public communication is to ensure that the results are understandable and based on verifiable claims, while handling the participating destinations' data according to the agreements on disclosure.

The assessment supports strategic planning, the identification of development tasks, and the monitoring of changes. It can also help a destination gather the data and evidence needed for future certification or accreditation preparation.

I-DEST's self-assessment and monitoring are not independent audits and do not replace official evaluations by Green Destinations or other certifying organisations. The publicly presented results pertain to the specified data and examined areas, and do not constitute general statements about a destination being "sustainable" as a whole.

With the destination's contribution, I-DEST may publish the Scorecard of its self-assessment. The Scorecard shows the number of questions related to each of the six main thematic areas and their subtopics, as well as the percentage results achieved in the I-DEST self-assessment.

The percentage value reflects the results calculated according to I-DEST's methodology for the specified period. It does not mean that the destination is sustainable to the same extent, nor does it indicate a GSTC or Green Destinations certification level. To interpret the result, we indicate which responses and data were included in the assessment, the basis for percentage calculations, and how missing information is handled.

The Scorecard is a self-assessment and development tool. The source of the data and the status of their verification are clearly indicated; the Scorecard is not an independent certification.