The 2025 edition of the Green Destinations international congress will take place at Corum in Montpellier, from September 28 to 30, 2025.
Take the train and get moving in Occitanie (Photo Bensizerara Sofiane – Occitanie Region) • Bensizerara Sofiane – Occ Region
Green Destinations is an international foundation created in 2014 and based in the Netherlands, accredited to carry a certification recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the highest body dealing with sustainable tourism at the international level.
Supported by the Occitanie Regional Tourism and Leisure Committee (CRTL), Open Tourism Lab (OTL) and the metropolis of Montpellier, the candidacy of the Languedoc capital attracted the organizers of the event, thus saluting the commitment and dynamism of a city and an entire region, in favor of the reasoned development of its tourist economy .
Muriel Abadie and Vincent Garel Occitanie tourism (Screenshot)
After being organized in Athens (Greece) in 2022, then Tallinn (Estonia) in 2023 and Punta Arenas (Chile) in 2024, the Green Destinations congress will set down in France for the first time, for its 2025 edition. Coming from all over the world, nearly 300 sustainable tourism experts are expected at this major congress during which participants will be invited to a cycle of conferences and workshops around the issues of sustainable tourism.
The conference itself (September 29 and 30) will be preceded by a day of welcoming delegations with a visit to Montpellier, while before and/or after the conference, several discovery programs in the region will be offered to participants through five educational tours where the most inspiring local eco-responsible initiatives will be highlighted.
An Eductour after Covid (Photo CCI30)
On the occasion of these days, the international competition “Green Destinations Top 100 Stories” will reward good practices in sustainable tourism from around the world in order to share them as inspiring examples for tourism professionals and travelers.
Occitanie was a pioneer by becoming the first European region to sign a Green New Deal. Its policy in favor of rail is the most successful example (TER-liO at 1euro, Occitanie Rail Tour, etc.). Moreover, the CRTL actively supports 15 destinations in Occitanie in their efforts to obtain the Green Destinations label.
The Region at the heart of rail (Photo Laurent Boutonnet).
This support, which includes training and advisory support, is ending soon so that applications for certification can be submitted at the beginning of 2025. Green Destinations' approach, in compliance with GSTC requirements , is based on several main principles. More responsible tourism in a more responsible territory, an approach through risk management, a participatory approach which involves all the stakeholders of the territory (visitors, inhabitants, businesses), and, finally, a search for completeness but in the progressiveness. Green Destinations is aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
