County Down Recognised as Top Global Sustainable Destination

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin was delighted to attend a ceremony on Wednesday 6 March, announcing County Down’s entry to the 2019 Sustainable Destinations Global Top 100 awards at the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show.

County Down is the only destination in the UK to win a spot in the prestigious awards.  The competition, organised by Green Destinations - a not-for-profit foundation for sustainable tourism, celebrates the efforts of established and emerging tourism destinations for responsible and sustainable tourism.

On attending the event, Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, "Being added to the Top 100 Global Sustainable Destinations is a tribute to all the hard work that the Council, in partnership with local tourism businesses, have done to make County Down into a responsible and sustainable tourism destination and an attractive place to live and work.

“Not only has County Down achieved this accolade, I am pleased that it has also received a Gold Award in the Green Destinations category, which recognises excellence in its green tourism offering.”

Chairman, Cllr Murnin continued, “This recognition for our beautiful landscape characterised by three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Mourne Mountains, Ring of Gullion and Strangford Lough & Lecale will provide a further opportunity to market sustainable visitor experiences, a strategic priority for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council."

To qualify for the award, entrants had to provide extensive information on their destination and their efforts to make itself and its stakeholders more sustainable for the benefit of visitors, local communities and the world. 

Candidate destinations had to clarify what they have been doing to comply with the 100 globally recognised criteria of the Green Destinations Standard. Nominations were evaluated by the Sustainable Top 100 Team and by members of the Top 100 International Committee and country experts.