Knowledge documents
09 February 2026
New sustainable tourism guides empower SMEs across the EU
Knowledge documents
09 February 2026
Adventure tourism
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
Cultural tourism
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New publications from the Sustainable Tourism Partnership – Urban Agenda for the EU have just been released, offering practical tools for local authorities, destinations and tourism SMEs. The two handbooks focus on sustainability certification pathways and financial instruments to support small- and medium-sized tourism businesses in transitioning to greener practices. These resources reinforce global sustainability standards and provide actionable guidance to help the tourism sector accelerate its environmental and social performance.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Topics
EU-27
Destination Management & Marketing Organisations
EU Institutions
Local Authorities
National authorities
Regional Authorities
SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)
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Specific types of tourism
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Adventure tourism
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Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
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Cultural tourism
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Ecotourism
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Education tourism
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Festival tourism
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Gastronomy tourism
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Health and medical tourism
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MICE tourism
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Mountain tourism
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Religious tourism
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Rural tourism
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Sports tourism
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Urban/city tourism
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Wellness tourism
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Transition Pathway Strategic Areas
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Best practices, peer learning and networking
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Governance of tourism destinations
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Tourism strategies
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Business activities
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Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
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Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism
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Air passenger transport
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Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
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Events catering and other food services
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Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities
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Gardens and nature reserves activities
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Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation
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Hotel and similar accommodation
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Mobile beverage services
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Mobile food services
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Museums
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Operation of historical sites
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Other
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Other accommodation
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Other amusement and recreation activities
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Other food and beverage services
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Other holiday reservation services
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Other tourism transportation activities
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Rail Passenger transport
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Recreational and sport activities
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Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)
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Road passenger transport
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Tour operator activities
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Travel agency activities
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Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport
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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in collaboration with the Sustainable Tourism Partnership – Urban Agenda for the EU, has published two new handbooks to support the transformation of sustainable tourism across Europe. These publications are designed to help policymakers, destination managers and tourism SMEs navigate sustainability challenges, access certification opportunities and unlock financial resources for climate-friendly investments.
The first publication, Greening Tourism SMEs: A Practical Handbook, provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability certification pathways, including programs aligned with the GSTC Standards, widely recognised as the benchmark for sustainable tourism practices globally. The handbook offers case studies from destinations across Europe where local governments and tourism organisations have actively supported SMEs in engaging with certification programs. It includes insights on technical assistance, training initiatives and how policy coordination and monitoring can facilitate certification uptake.
The second guide, Financial Tools for Sustainable Tourism SMEs, maps key financial instruments available to tourism SMEs to support sustainability investments. The guide outlines various funding mechanisms, including EU programs such as InvestEU, Cohesion Policy funds, the LIFE Program and support from the European Investment Bank. It also highlights examples of public authorities acting as intermediaries to help businesses secure grants, loans, and blended finance for energy efficiency, climate adaptation, waste reduction, and other green initiatives.
Both publications were developed with structured analytical tools and case-based research to make them easily actionable for cities, regions and tourism stakeholders. By covering both certification and finance, the resources offer a strategic framework for SMEs to strengthen their sustainability performance, enhance market credibility and contribute to destination resilience.
For EU tourism, these new guides are particularly relevant. As destinations work to implement sustainable tourism strategies that align with climate goals, social equity, and economic resilience, practical tools and financial insights are essential. Supporting SMEs — which make up the majority of the tourism economy — is key to achieving broader sustainability targets and embedding responsible practices throughout the value chain.
The release of these publications reflects ongoing efforts within the Urban Agenda for the EU to translate strategy into action, providing destinations with replicable tools to advance sustainable tourism development across Europe.
#Sustainable Tourism #Responsible Travel #Sustainable Destinations #Tourism Development #Smart Tourism #Reports
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