Dubrovnik honored with the title of ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Destination’ | News
The Croatian tourist capital of Dubrovnik has been recognized by voters at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) with the title of World’s Leading Sustainable Destination 2025.
The award was unveiled in front of hundreds of global sustainable tourism leaders gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognized the individuals and organizations accelerating change in net positive tourism.
The Dubrovnik ‘Respect the City’ initiative is a pioneering model for controlling overtourism, while preserving cultural heritage and improving the quality of life of residents. Launched in 2017, the strategic, multidisciplinary project positions Dubrovnik as a leader in sustainability in the Mediterranean region by balancing economic growth with the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Through innovative technology and coordinated governance, the city has introduced Croatia’s first electric car sharing system, implemented an AI-powered visitor forecasting system and launched the Dubrovnik Pass, integrating access to attractions and management of visitor flows.
“We are very proud of this global recognition. Dubrovnik is a city of remarkable beauty and heritage, but it is our responsibility to ensure that it remains a living, thriving home for our citizens. In recent years we have taken decisive steps to balance tourism with everyday life, guided by data, collaboration and respect for our UNESCO-protected Old Town. This award confirms that our approach is working and encourages us to continue. I thank our residents, partners and international colleagues who support our vision. Dubrovnik will continue to lead by example and show that sustainability and cultural vibrancy can progress together,” said Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković.
Respect the City also includes a bus reservation system and cruise traffic coordination with CLIA. Elsewhere, port authorities have reduced peak congestion, proving that managing the flow, not numbers, is the key to sustainable tourism. These efforts have led to a 16% improvement in the city’s GSTC score – from 70% in 2019 to 86.04% in 2023 – showing measurable progress across all sustainability indicators. Dubrovnik sets the standard for how historic cities can thrive through data-driven, community-oriented tourism management.
WSTHA is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent more than 66,000 hotels, eight million rooms worldwide, 300 brands and more than 100 supply chain and strategic partners.
Glenn Mandziuk, President & Chief Executive Officer of World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “We congratulate the City of Dubrovnik on this honor. This achievement reflects an outstanding commitment to innovation, collaboration and leadership in the field of sustainable hospitality. At the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, we are proud to recognize organizations that are not only redefining excellence in guest experience, but also demonstrating that responsible business practices and sustainability are essential to the future of our industry – a net positive future for hospitality.”
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said: “Our organization is committed to celebrating the individuals and companies who are setting new standards in protecting our planet for future generations – and Dubrovnik is truly a deserving winner. It is a privilege to recognize the city’s achievements at our second annual Gala Ceremony, and I wish the team much success in the years to come.”
