Royal Djurgården has reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s most sustainable urban destinations. For the second time, the Royal Djurgården Society has received the Green Destinations Platinum Award, recognizing efforts across all criteria in alignment with the UN’s 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals.
As the centerpiece of the world’s first National City Park, Djurgården’s legacy spans over four centuries as a hub of culture, recreation, and entertainment. Today, it hosts Scandinavia’s premier attractions, including museums, restaurants, galleries, theme parks, and an open-air theatre, welcoming over 15 million visitors annually.
Since first receiving the award in 2022, the Royal Djurgården Society has continued to work strategically with its 62 members—Sweden’s most-visited attractions—to advance sustainability efforts. A comprehensive review of approximately 100 criteria showed significant progress, with Djurgården surpassing the 90% threshold required for Platinum recognition.
“I had the pleasure of visiting Royal Djurgården in April this year and was deeply impressed by the high level of sustainability throughout this magnificent area. It provides clear inspiration to other cities worldwide and demonstrates that sustainable urban destination development benefits both residents and visitors,” said Albert Salman, President of Green Destinations, a global organization for sustainable tourism.
The award motivation emphasized the uniquely strong collaboration, shared vision, and generous knowledge-sharing among Djurgården’s stakeholders. Hosting the GSTC 2024 World Congress, with participants from 57 countries, has further solidified Djurgården’s position as a global leader in sustainable tourism. Beyond international recognition, Djurgården’s stakeholders actively contribute to shaping global sustainability criteria while implementing innovative circular and resource-efficient solutions.
“Receiving this award again is proof that we are not content to rest on our laurels. Instead, we remain committed to developing Djurgården as a sustainable destination. This recognition gives all of us encouragement and momentum in our ongoing efforts. We know it makes a difference as we collectively welcome over 15 million visitors annually,” said Camilla Zedendahl, CEO of Royal Djurgården Society.
Through the Royal Djurgården Society, close collaboration continues between all attractions and partners, including the City of Stockholm, Stockholm Business Region, and Region Stockholm, to develop the destination as a role model in sustainability.
About the Green Destinations Platinum Award
Green Destinations is a global organization for sustainable tourism that has developed a comprehensive assessment and certification program based on GSTC criteria. It is supported by a network of organizations worldwide, such as the Future of Tourism Coalition and Sustainable First.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) manages the global standards for sustainable travel and tourism and serves as the international accreditation body for sustainability certifications aligned with the UN’s 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals. GSTC was founded in part by UNEP and UNWTO.
This work relates to all 17 UN goals for sustainable development.
