Last Friday, March 14th, the Municipality of Loulé received the “Green Destination” certificate, at a event that took place at BTL – Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market 2025.
Loulé is thus recognized for its commitment to implementing policies and actions that promote balanced, sustainable, and responsible tourism, based on principles embodied in the SDGs, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, whether environmental, cultural, or socioeconomic.
The award of the certificate is based on the audit of a set of criteria in the areas of Destination Management, Nature and Landscapes, Environment and Climate, Culture and Tradition, Social Well-being, Business and Communication.
This certification will allow presence in an international network and access to best practices from other destinations with the same seal, as well as access to a set of tools created by "Green Destinations", which will allow the measurement and evaluation of various aspects of sustainability performance.
For the millions of tourists who visit the municipality annually, this seal is a guarantee that they are in a region that prioritizes good sustainability practices and, as such, is a decisive factor in attracting more visitors.
It's worth noting that Loulé has been a pioneering municipality in the country when it comes to sustainability. It was the first municipality in the country to approve its Municipal Climate Action Plan, but it's also worth highlighting its commitment to creating protected areas that promote biodiversity, such as the recently established Foz do Almargem and Trafal Local Nature Reserve.
Also the Loulé Criativo project, which promotes tourism based on traditional arts and crafts, preserving ancestral techniques and stimulating the local economy, or the involvement in the Geopark's UNESCO candidacy Algarvensis, which values sustainable socioeconomic development based on geotourism activities, make Loulé a "Green Destination." It should be noted that, during the "Green Destination" certification ceremony, the "Destino – Portugal Sustentável" brand was also presented. This brand represents a milestone in the national tourism strategy, highlighting Portugal's commitment to establishing itself as a global benchmark for sustainability. This initiative aims to raise public awareness and mobilize the various stakeholders in the sector to adopt good environmental, social, and economic practices, ensuring the sustainable development of national tourism.
