Working towards a more sustainable future

As part of our ongoing commitment to a regenerative and sustainable visitor economy, Visit County Durham has become a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, a global initiative to mobilise tourism stakeholders to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2050.  And through collaboration with the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) movement, we have already taken significant steps towards embedding regenerative principles in our operations. 

Global Destination Sustainability Index

Visit County Durham takes part in the Global Destination Sustainability Index to benchmark our destination performance and progress in sustainable tourism practices.  In the latest assessment, VCD achieved a commendable score of 51.49% showcasing a substantial improvement from the previous year's score of 42.13%. This accomplishment reflects our dedication to sustainability and responsible tourism practices.  It is a model for a city and therefore our results are for Durham City. The score and it’s results benefit the visitor economy by becoming more sustainable for business, residents and visitors to ensure a more regenerative and resilient destination.

North East Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework

Closer to home we have played a key role in the development of the North East Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework. Co-created with the involvement of over 200 stakeholders across the industry, the framework is a tool that will ultimately help the North East to become one of the world’s most sustainable, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming regions. The Regenerative Tourism Framework aims not only to minimise environmental impact but also to actively contribute to the biological, social, and economic health of the region.  

Green Tourism Business Scheme

As part of Destination North East England, Visit County Durham has been instrumental in facilitating businesses to obtain globally recognised sustainability certifications through the Green Tourism Scheme. This initiative recognises tourism businesses actively striving to enhance their sustainability practices, with Bronze/Silver/Gold awards serving as global indicators of environmentally friendly operations. Destination North East England's support includes fully funded year-one memberships for the first 100 businesses for Green Tourism and 25 businesses for Green Meetings, along with subsequent discounts, fostering a culture of sustainability in the region. The Visit County Durham team is also working towards the award. 

As we head into 2025 we will continue to work hard to meet out sustainability targets and support our partners to do the same whilst continuing to explore new ways to help tackle climate change.

Making a difference, One Meeting at a Time

Inspired by Visit Belfast Business Events and Meet Cambridge, Visit County Durham is committed to delivering more sustainable events and raising funds to support our county. We have pledged to support County Durham Community Foundation (now rebranded to Point North Community Foundation ), who are fighting poverty and enriching lives across Durham.

At each Visit County Durham event we will include a spare delegate place or sponsored table, the cost of which is donated directly to Point North. Our long-term goal is to work with all meeting and event venues in the county to promote this project, offering alternative ways for event organisers to get involved.