Manchester named England’s highest-ranked city in Global Destination Sustainability Index for second year running

Manchester has been ranked 34th globally, up one place, and remains the highest-ranked English city in the GDS-Index despite stronger competition from global cities. 

The GDS Index is a global benchmarking and performance improvement programme that helps destinations measure and improve their sustainability performance across environmental, social, supplier and destination management criteria, while providing practical recommendations for improvement. 

Built for destinations that want to drive impact, the GDS index lays the foundation for regenerative and sustainable tourism, helping DMOs engage with partners, craft compelling stories, earn certifications, and increase the long-term positive impact of events and tourism in a place. 

The report assesses a destination based on several factors including environmental, social, supplier and destination management organisation. It also considers the city’s commitment to tackling climate change and creating a positive impact for residents, visitors and local communities. 

In the 2026 report, Manchester has climbed up a place from the previous year, ranking 34 out of 100 destinations and scoring 75.29% across all categories. The city has once again secured its place in the top 40 globally, despite increased competition. Maintaining its position in the current climate demonstrates the impact of actions taken across the region over the past 12 months. 

For the second consecutive year, Manchester is the highest-ranking city in England. Maintaining its place in the top 40 globally means Manchester has achieved one of the key targets set out in the Greater Manchester Visitor Economy Strategy 2025-2030. 

The strategy, launched in January 2025, has driven the implementation of a series of initiatives designed to improve the city’s sustainability performance. This includes a 40-point Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, informed by previous recommendations from the GDS Index in areas such as waste, energy use, transport, and staff engagement. 

Marketing Manchester recently became a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, committing to raise its climate ambition in support of global climate goals and to delivering a climate action plan within 12 months of signing. The Glasgow Declaration is a global initiative which aligns tourism stakeholders through climate action with goals to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050. 

Recent initiatives delivered by Marketing Manchester to support this ambition include: 

• The Green Hospitality Network – set up in collaboration with Green Economy, Bee Net Zero and Open Kitchen – which brings together businesses in the sector to tackle shared challenges as well as access training, resources and information about sustainability practices. The Network will host its next meeting on 10th November at Campfield.  

• The creation of an Events Sustainability Guide & Checklist, with Greater Manchester-specific information, to help event organisers navigate every aspect of the planning stage while tracking, allocating and delivering sustainable practices across the event. This was launched alongside a Social Impact Guide for Events, created in collaboration with Manchester Central Convention Centre and Manchester Community Central, to support event organisers connecting with local community projects, charities and educators to leave a positive, lasting legacy in the region. 

• The launch of Visit Manchester Well, a hub set up within the official tourist board for Greater Manchester, Visit Manchester, where visitors to the city region will find tips on how to lessen their environmental impact, improve their sustainable travel practices, how to volunteer with local community projects during their stay, and discover local businesses implementing effective sustainable practices. 

Greater Manchester’s ambition to become carbon-neutral by 2038 is supported by the Greater Manchester Strategy and a refreshed five-year Environment Plan, accelerating action across energy, transport, nature recovery, air quality and the low-carbon economy. 

As the second most-visited English city outside London, tourism and hospitality have an important role to play in achieving this goal. 

Embracing sustainable practices not only supports the city region’s ambitions but helps tourism and hospitality businesses reduce costs, improve resilience, attract environmentally conscious visitors and strengthen their long-term competitiveness. 

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “Climbing the Global Destination Sustainability Index is a significant achievement and reflects the collective efforts taking place across Greater Manchester to build a more sustainable visitor economy. Maintaining our spot in the top 40 globally is a clear credit to the progress being made by businesses, venues, attractions and partners across the city region to reduce their environmental impact and create positive benefits for local communities.” 

” The GDS Index allows us to benchmark our performance against leading destinations around the world and identify opportunities for further improvement. We’ll use these findings to inform future action as we continue our journey towards becoming one of the world’s most sustainable places to visit, meet and do business.” 

Lisa Rowbotham, Tourism Sustainability Manager at Marketing Manchester, said: 

“Climbing a place in the GDS Index is encouraging and shows that collective action is making a difference in Greater Manchester. Sustainability is not about a small number of organisations doing everything perfectly; it is about businesses across the visitor economy taking steps that contribute to a bigger shared ambition. Whether that is reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, sourcing locally, promoting sustainable travel options or creating a positive social impact. Every action counts. 

“Through initiatives such as the Green Hospitality Network and our wider sustainability programme, we want to support businesses across Greater Manchester at every stage of their sustainability journey” 

Councillor Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is a city of innovation, and I’m delighted that this is reflected in our commitment to sustainability. Recognition in the GDS Index is a testament to the collective efforts of partners across our visitor economy to reduce our environmental impact, support inclusive growth and support a better place to be.  

“While we’re pleased with this recognition we’re focused on going further and ensuring Manchester leads to way in a building a greener, fairer and more resilient future.”  

To learn more about Manchester’s GDS Index ranking, view its GDS Summary Report here.