Sustainability activities and -partnerships in Destination Trekantområdet

A Holistic Approach to Destination Development in Destination Trekantområdet

Destination Trekantområdet works holistically with destination development. In other words, we see tourism as part of an "ecosystem" that creates local value while interacting with the community and nature. This is why we take a pragmatic approach to sustainability, ensuring that tourism actively contributes to addressing sustainability challenges.

On this page, you can learn about the initiatives and collaborations Destination Trekantområdet is part of.

Kickstart with Danish Destinations

Destination Trekantområdet is focused on gathering knowledge and best practice examples of how sustainability is being integrated into destination management worldwide. Therefore, we are part of the project “Sustainable Destinations in Practice,” which was launched in late January 2022. Through this project, we participate in several masterclasses that we use as inspiration for our own efforts toward more sustainable tourism development.

Regenerative Tourism on the Global Map

“Tourism should be a tool for doing good, restoring, and adding value to local communities, natural areas, and everyday lives.” This is the foundational premise of a project anchored in Nature Park Lillebælt. The experiences gained here can serve as a lever for regenerative tourism development across the entire destination, Denmark, and the globe. This project is also Destination Trekantområdet's flagship initiative for developing more practice-based sustainable destination development.

Informal Sustainability Principles

Destination Trekantområdet has not yet formulated an official sustainability strategy, but we are working toward a series of informal principles for fostering more sustainable tourism development within the destination. These informal principles include:

Governance

• Destination Trekantområdet will take on a bold and ambitious role as a lighthouse, serving as a significant and inspiring voice for sustainability in tourism—locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Destination Trekantområdet will set expectations for sustainable behavior among tourism operators and visitors while they are guests in the destination.
• Destination Trekantområdet will collaborate with member municipalities to ensure tourism supports their climate action plans and goals.

Visibility & Communication

• We adopt a “show it, don’t just tell it” approach to avoid greenwashing and minimize greenhushing. We are committed to sharing the challenges of sustainability work as well as our successes.
• Instead of making sustainability certification a requirement for tourism operators, we aim to equip them with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.
• Destination Trekantområdet aims to join the GDS Index with the cities of Billund, Kolding, Fredericia, and Vejle. This will serve as both a benchmark against other destination management organizations globally and as a tool to focus on areas where we face challenges.

Capacity, Seasonality & Product Development

• We will continue our efforts in spreading tourism across seasons and developing products while being mindful of dynamic capacity considerations—such as protecting natural areas that may not align with typical visitor patterns.
• We will work purposefully to make it easy for tourists to make sustainable choices throughout their journey.

Through these efforts, Destination Trekantområdet aims to ensure that tourism actively contributes to a sustainable and thriving future for local communities, nature, and the tourism industry itself.