In 2025, Barcelona made a significant leap in tourism sustainability: it rose from 31st to 14th place globally in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index 2025), the international programme that assesses and promotes sustainability in the tourism sector, taking into account variables such as environmental performance, social progress, the supply chain, and destination management.
Barcelona has managed to climb 17 positions in just one year thanks to significant improvements in destination management, the environment, and the supply chain, while maintaining its strong rating in the social area.
By category, the city achieved 2nd place worldwide for supplier progress in Central and Southern Europe, and when the analysis is limited to major metropolises, it ranks 1st, ahead of cities such as Berlin and Amsterdam.
This recognition places Barcelona among the 40 cities worldwide acknowledged as “leaders in sustainability”, that is, destinations progressing towards regeneration and demonstrating a strong commitment to creating a positive impact on their territory, residents, and visitors.
A clear commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism
According to José Antonio Donaire, Commissioner for Sustainable Tourism Management at Barcelona City Council, “the rise of 17 positions to 14th place globally in the GDS Index in just one year shows that the sustainable strategy promoted by the City Council is heading in the right direction”. Among the council’s objectives is for Barcelona to become “the first urban destination in which tourists’ water and energy consumption and waste generation are the same as those of residents”.
In its commitment to sustainable tourism, the city applies not only environmental but also social and economic criteria: reducing pressure in high-traffic areas, restoring community life in tourist spaces, and supporting local businesses are central elements of its governance measures.
Donaire emphasised that the recognition is the result of a collective effort across the entire sector: “more than 500 companies in the city participate in the Commitment to Sustainable Tourism and have implemented measures year after year to reduce the environmental footprint of tourism”.
The role of the Destination Barcelona Commitment to Sustainable Tourism programme
The news comes at a time when the city and its metropolitan area are consolidating their leadership in sustainable tourism. Indeed, the number of organisations participating in the Destination Barcelona Commitment to Sustainable Tourism programme has recently surpassed 1,140, including companies, services, and entities from both the city and the wider province.
The programme, promoted by Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Provincial Council, and implemented in collaboration with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Barcelona Tourism Consortium, serves as a framework to promote responsible practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This success in the GDS Index reaffirms Barcelona’s path towards a more balanced, sustainable, and community-integrated tourism model. It represents an opportunity to strengthen the destination’s competitiveness, attract high-quality, conscientious tourism, and, at the same time, preserve the environment, urban life, and social cohesion.
