A new global study attempts to capture how ready top tourist destinations are to combine growth with sustainability, in a period of rapid growth in international travel. The reason is the Global Destination Resilience Index 2025, jointly published by the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) and Tourism Economics.
The study, the product of a new strategic partnership between the two organizations, assesses the top 50 travel markets worldwide through five key pillars:
- transport mix,
- tourism intensity,
- environment,
- climate, and
- macroeconomic data.
This is a new benchmarking tool aimed at policymakers, investors and tourism leaders, offering a documented picture of where destinations stand today and how they can strengthen their resilience over the next decade.
According to the results of the index, Peru emerges as the most resilient destination in the world, followed by Hong Kong and Poland. These three destinations stand out for their ability to manage tourism growth in a sustainable way while maintaining economic stability.
In contrast, Malaysia, India and Spain appear to have significant room for improvement, mainly in matters related to climate change adaptation and strengthening their environmental policies.
Need for balanced growth
The publication of the index comes at a crucial time for the global tourism industry, as travel demand is expected to increase by more than 50% over the next decade. The study’s findings highlight that sustainable tourism management is essential for this growth to support both local communities and natural ecosystems.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director EMEA at Tourism Economics, said:
“We are proud to partner with the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards on this critical initiative. Our aim is to provide the tourism industry with reliable, evidence-based tools to help destinations build long-term resilience and prosperity. The index will evolve over time to reflect the new realities of global tourism and the urgent need to integrate sustainability into every decision.”
For his part, Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President of WSTHA, described the collaboration as a “defining moment” in the journey towards more responsible tourism:
“By defining where we are today, we can chart the course for where we need to be tomorrow. This collaboration demonstrates that sustainability is not only a moral imperative, but also a source of economic resilience, competitiveness and long-term growth.”
A living framework for the future
The Global Destination Resilience Index will be updated regularly, acting as a “living framework” to monitor progress and support the transition of global tourism towards more sustainable and resilient operating models.
The full Global Destination Resilience Index 2025 report is available to download on the Oxford Economics website.
