Sustainability in tourism: Certificates as the key to the future!

Sustainability in tourism: Certificates as the key to the future!

Wagrain-Kleinarl, Österreich - On March 7, 2025, the online talk "Green Destination-Why Certified Regions will have the front in the future" of the Travel Industry Club Tourism (TICT) took place in collaboration with Respect_nfi. Top -class speakers illuminated, including Nicole Nell and Dr. Michaela Hölz, the central role of sustainability certificates in tourism. Nell, sustainability manager at Wagrain-Klein-Kleinarl Tourismus, explained that it is not just about recruiting new guests, but about establishing sustainable practices in the long term. The focus was on the inclusion of all tourism providers from the municipality to restaurants in order to make sustainability measurable and implementable.

like new-touristik.de , sustainability certificates are crucial in order to offer travelers an orientation in the selection of environmentally conscious and socially responsible holiday destinations. There are over 150 different sustainability labels that cover various aspects such as environmental friendliness and social justice. These certificates promote awareness among companies and create competitive advantages in increasing markets focused on sustainability.

The way to sustainability

dr. Michaela Hölz ​​from Hölz ​​Consulting pointed out that the certification process not only includes formal requirements, but also serves as a learning process for those involved. Certificates such as the Austrian environmental label define clear standards that enable regions to formulate their sustainability goals. However, implementing such a system can take up to one year and requires both responsibility and resources in the tourism industry. In this context, DI Karl Reiner from the ÖAR Advice & Development underlined the need for European cooperation and the exchange between various destinations to promote transparent certifications and to exploit the full potential of sustainable tourism.

Overall, it becomes clear that the implementation and recognition of sustainability certificates not only represents a step towards environmentally friendly tourism practices, but also opens up innovation potential for the entire industry. A new standard is created, which forms the basis for a successful and sustainable future of tourism, as Oekonews.at explained in detail.