Sustainable Destination

Norway’s national programme for developing sustainable tourism destinations

A good place to live is a good place to visit.

Visit some of the almost 50 destinations in Norway that hold the Sustainable Destination label!

The label indicates that the destination is working systematically to develop tourism in a more sustainable way.

Did you know that the label requires not only environmental improvements, but also improvements in terms of impact on the local community and preservation of cultural heritage?

“We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. We have a great responsibility to keep it that way.”

Line Renate Samuelsen

CEO of Destination Lofoten

Do your travel habits align with your values? When you visit a Sustainable Destination, you are supporting a place in Norway that is committed to making travel more responsible, both for today and in the future.

There are many positive sides to tourism, but the industry is also facing challenges. If you’re eager to experience a unique destination that aims to minimise travel's negative impacts and maximise its positive ripple effects, you should visit some of the nearly 50 places in Norway that hold the Sustainable Destination label. Many more are in the process of being certified.

These destinations have committed to working systematically towards making tourism more sustainable, with the goal of making them a better place both to visit and to live.

Norway is a forerunner in developing such a national programme, which was first established in 2013. The core of the programme is a Standard containing a set of criteria and indicators that are measured, registered, and regularly monitored. Destinations are evaluated every three years and must document substantial improvement.

The standard has achieved ‘GSTC-Recognized status, given by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

'Sustainable tourism' is defined by the UN Environment Program and the UN World Tourism Organization as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.

See all labelled destinations

10 principles of the Sustainable Destination label

These principles reflect the values guiding sustainable tourism development in the programme, based on internationally recognised standards.

Conservation of Nature, Culture, and Environment

Cultural identity: Respect, further develop, and highlight the local community's historical cultural heritage, authentic culture, traditions, and distinctiveness.
Biodiversity: Support the conservation of natural areas, wildlife, and habitats, and minimise their destruction.
Climate emissions and climate adaptation: Minimise the climate emissions of tourism and tourists, and adapt tourism to a changing climate.
Clean environment and resource efficiency: Minimise pollution of air, water, and land (including noise) by tourism businesses and tourists, and reduce waste and consumption of scarce and non-renewable resources.

Strengthening of Social Values

Quality of life and social values: Preserve and enhance the quality of life in the community, including social structures, access to resources, facilities, and the common good for all, while avoiding any form of social degradation and exploitation.
Local control and engagement: Engage and empower local communities and local stakeholders regarding planning, decision-making, management, and development of local tourism.
Job quality for tourism employees: Enhance the quality of tourism jobs (direct and indirect), including wage levels and working conditions without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, disabilities, or other factors.
Guest satisfaction, safety, and quality of experiences: Ensure safe, satisfying, and enriching experiences for all tourists regardless of gender, race, disabilities, or other factors.

Economic Viability

Economically viable and competitive tourism destinations through local value creation: Ensure the viability and competitiveness of tourism destinations in the long term, through maximising tourism's value creation in the community, including the sums visitors spend locally.
Economically viable and competitive tourism businesses: Ensure the viability and competitiveness of tourism businesses in a long-term perspective.

So, what's in it for you, as a visitor?

All this means you can travel to a place that makes a big effort to help you minimise your impact on nature, wildlife, and the climate.

A destination in balance.

Visit destinations that are committed to making local people happy.

These places give locals the opportunity to learn, thrive and work, and develop new businesses based on more sustainable principles.

Meet Lofoten local Mymint, one of Norway's best chefs

Local destinations, local flavours.

Enjoy local specialities and world-class seafood.

Explore nature.

Choose electric or low emission transport whenever you can.

Add some extraordinary culture.

And make some lasting memories.

Discover your next destination

Head to Norway's Sustainable Destinations.

These destinations are also certified:

Stranda in Sunnmøre
Sauda in Ryfylke
The National Park Kingdom including Dovre, Dovrefjell, Jotunheimen, Rondane, Breheimen, and Reinheimen
Åfjord with Stokkøya in Trøndelag
The Elverum region, including Våler and Elverum in Eastern Norway
Midt-Telemark and Nome municipality in Telemark

Travel better

How you travel matters. A lot.

Let the eco-labels guide you

Green travel logo

Every time you see this Green Travel symbol on our website, you know that the associated products and offers are a part of an official environmental labelling scheme. The Green Travel symbol is a common navigation to all qualified environmental schemes used by tourism enterprises in Norway. The symbol helps you find eco-certified alternatives.

The certifications below fall under Green Travel. These certifications indicate that providers follow strict rules relating to the production and management of waste, energy, transport, use of chemicals, and rules for subcontractors. These measures go beyond what the Norwegian law requires.

The following certifications fall under Green Travel

Ecotourism Norway

This national certification is awarded to businesses and operators that hold a high international level in ecotourism. Over 100 strict criteria on environmental performance, host-role, local community integration, and purchasing must be met and often improved. The certificate is renewed every three years.

The ecolabel Nordic Swan

More than 5,000 products in Norway are certified with Nordic Swan, which indicates that they satisfy strict demands relating to energy efficiency, materials, and chemicals, all the way from raw materials to end products and waste management.

Eco-Lighthouse

Eco-Lighthouse enterprises work towards satisfying requirements and implementing environmental measures on a systematic and ongoing basis in order to create more environmentally friendly operations and safer work environments. Enterprises are certified subject to independent assessment and must undergo a recertification process every three years.

Green Key

Global ecolabel, recognized by GSTC, for hotels, small accommodations, campsites, and attractions. Certified businesses must meet strict criteria for waste, energy, water, procurement, green areas, CSR, and staff involvement. High standards are maintained through annual certificate renewal, rigorous application process, documentation, and frequent audits.

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is given to enterprises that have a high-quality environmental managing system for organisational performance.

Blue Flag

Global, prestigious award based on a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and accessibility criteria to be met and maintained, aimed at beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. More than 4,100 sites in 46 countries are Blue Flag certified.