About a hundred leading sustainability experts from various countries around the world gathered from 10 to 12 December 2024 in Punta Arenas (Chile) for the 10th edition of the annual Green Destinations international conference!

The Green Destinations programme awards destinations that meet high environmental, socio-economic and cultural standards, providing them with a prestigious international certification. It is an important step towards obtaining an independently verified sustainability certification that is fully evidence-based and aligned with the international standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The methodology and prescribed standards for a successful certification process according to the Green Destinations model are extremely demanding. Lošinj has shown that it can be an example of excellence in tourism, not only in Croatia, but also in the Mediterranean. We hope that other destinations in Croatia, as well as in the region, will follow in its footsteps, explained Katarina Miličević, PhD, Director of Tourism Lab – the company which acts as the official Green Destinations representative in Croatia.

After a period of extensive preparations and compilation of detailed documentation covering more than 100 sustainability criteria and indicators, as well as an independent on-site audit, Lošinj’s excellence was confirmed in almost all areas of sustainable destination management, with the highest number of points achieved in the areas of culture and tradition, social well-being, and nature and landscape.

The certificate is a recognition of the efforts that Lošinj has invested in maintaining the attractiveness of tourism in the future. In addition to visible, material aspects such as natural heritage, policy and management plans that take into account sustainable development principles are also measured.

We are extremely honoured to be the first town in Croatia to win this prestigious award! It confirms that Lošinj is a destination that preserves natural heritage, promotes sustainable tourism and contributes to environmental preservation. Winning the Gold Award is not only a recognition of our expert teams and partners, but also of all the stakeholders and fellow citizens who make our town sustainable with their everyday activities. This success shows that Mali Lošinj, in addition to the beauty of nature, also has a responsible approach to its preservation, contributing to sustainable development for future generations. This is just the beginning, as we will continue to implement green solutions in tourism and society. I invite all visitors to come and see for themselves the beauty and sustainability of our Lošinj, said Mayor of the Town of Mali Lošinj Ana Kučić.

The certificate was received by Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board Dalibor Cvitković. We are extremely proud of the Gold Award and of the fact that Lošinj has once again been recognised as one of the sustainable destinations. This recognition confirms that Lošinj is a leading sustainable tourist destination, continuing a successful streak that began with its inclusion on the list of the top 100 sustainable destinations back in 2016. The goal is to educate, through numerous sustainable projects, the local community and visitors about the importance of the ecosystem we live in and to actively involve them in the preservation of natural resources. This recognition confirms our long-term efforts and motivates us to continue investing in projects that will preserve our unique climate and destination for future generations, said Director of the Mali Lošinj Tourist Board Dalibor Cvitković while congratulating all the winners and noting that Lošinj also featured on the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list for 2024, which proves the commitment of this destination to sustainable tourism management.

The Green Destinations award and certification programme encourages municipalities, counties, regions and protected areas to promote responsible destination management on a continuous and sustainable basis and to encourage the tourism sector to implement good environmental practices. Destinations participating in the programme implement a sustainability management system whose functioning and progress are evaluated every two to three years by an independent auditor, based on which recommendations for improvements are made. Thanks to the support of regional partners and representatives, more than 120 destinations in 25 countries already received their awards and certificates. The Green Destinations certificate was accredited in 2018 by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

This leading global conference dedicated to the sustainable management of destinations was held in Mali Lošinj in 2019, when, in addition to 30 presentations and panel discussions with more than 60 leading world experts on the topic of “Green Solutions for Tourist Destinations”, the 2019 Top 100 sustainable destinations in the world were presented.