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Certification of the city and partner businesses for sustainable tourism
Darmstadt has been officially recognized as a "Sustainable Destination" and now bears the prestigious TourCert seal. In addition, ten local partner businesses received certification as "Partner Sustainable Destinations." The certificates were presented at a ceremony held at the Sitte restaurant , marking a significant step towards sustainable tourism development.
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasized: “Our city combines innovative strength with quality of life and focuses on tourism that harmonizes the environment, the economy, and society. The certification as a ‘Sustainable Destination’ underscores our commitment to developing the tourism location responsibly and resiliently. In this way, we ensure long-term competitiveness, added value, and a high quality of life for both guests and locals.”
The certification process comprised several phases. First, the current situation in Darmstadt was analyzed based on various criteria such as quality awareness, economic stability, regional economic cycles, and resource management. Based on this analysis, an improvement program was developed with concrete goals and measures, for example, in the areas of sustainable product development, tourism acceptance, and public welfare and quality of life.
A key aspect of the project was the involvement of local partner businesses that represent Darmstadt's diversity. The first certified partners include:
- Hotels : Best Western Hotel Darmstadt , greet Hotel Darmstadt , Hotel Stadt Heidelberg , Lufthansa Seeheim
- Gastronomy : Braustübl' , Restaurant Sitte
- Culture & Leisure : bioversum Jagdschloss Kranichstein , Hofgut Oberfeld , Kletterwald Darmstadt
- Events industry : Science and Congress Center
- Darmstadtium
This partner network is continuously expanding. Interested businesses can register as a partner company with Darmstadt Marketing GmbH .
Anja Herdel , Managing Director of Darmstadt Marketing GmbH, explained: “The certification process has given us many new ideas for our work and the future direction of our offerings and events. We are delighted that our partners are joining us on this journey and that the partner network reflects Darmstadt's diversity – from hotels and restaurants to culture and leisure. Together, we are strengthening the tourism offerings and invite other businesses to join us.”
The entire process was transparently documented in a sustainability report and assessed by independent experts as part of an audit. This included an on-site visit to Darmstadt, including visits to three partner companies. Finally, the results were approved by a panel of experts.
TourCert's criteria catalogues are based on international quality and environmental standards and are aligned with the rules of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
With its certification as a "Sustainable Destination," Darmstadt has taken a significant step towards sustainable tourism development. However, this process is only the beginning: continuous collaboration with local stakeholders is essential to achieving the shared goal of a sustainable destination.
The state of Hesse also places great importance on sustainability in tourism. As part of the "On the Way to Hesse as a Sustainable Destination" process, all ten Hessian destinations underwent a certification process and successfully completed it by the end of March. This makes Hesse the first German state to implement this comprehensive approach to sustainable tourism development. This joint effort underscores the commitment of Darmstadt and Hesse to offering both visitors and locals a future-proof and livable environment.
(DARMSTADT – RED/DAM)
Cover photo: Darmstadt certified as a ‘Sustainable Travel Destination’. Photo: Darmstadt Marketing, Rüdiger Dunker
