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10 Tips on How to Make a Career in Sustainable Tourism

How to make a career in sustainable tourism ? In this post, we share with you some tips and career advice for recent graduates interested in the fascinating field of sustainable tourism development, management and marketing. If you are keen to combine skills with passion and want the satisfaction of knowing that you can do well by doing good, then this is your starting place.

10 Tips for a successful career in sustainable tourism

Here’s what tourism professionals suggest in terms of getting a foot into the sustainable tourism door:

1. Bring the right skills

Communication is key to a successful career dedicated to making tourism more sustainable, says Dagmar Lund-Durlacher of MODUL University in Vienna, Austria: “Communication with stakeholders within and outside the organization or business is crucial for a successful sustainable tourism development.”

Rebecca Hawkins of the Responsible Hospitality Partnership in the United Kingdom also emphasizes the benefit of being a good communicator when working in tourism sustainability :

“Learn the skills of listening, engaging and motivating … most staff teams are more than able to create solutions to sustainability dilemmas they just need a bit of facilitation and support along the way.”

2. Don’t look for a job in “sustainable tourism”

This one is particularly important because it could stop you at a very early stage. “Sustainable tourism” isn’t a business sector or discipline with established procedures and career paths.

The key, as Randy Durband , CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council advises, is to “seek careers in any facet of travel and tourism and be an agent of change for greater sustainability.”

Salli Felton , CEO of the Travel Foundation agrees, and urges career starters to “take your knowledge, drive and passion and find ways to implement sustainability in a regular job in the travel industry. Once you’re there, don’t lose hope at the first hurdle, if you need support then it’s out there for you – give the Travel Foundation a call and we’ll help you plug into the right networks.”

Patience, and over time finding ways to change the tourism industry from within is also the advice of Fiona Jeffery , founder of water charity Just a Drop, who advises to “listen to your conscience and ensure whatever job you take put sustainability in the agenda as part of its DNA.”

Which of course links back to the importance of communication skills, so you can, as Rebecca Hawkins puts it, “convince your employer that the sustainability path is one that will pay dividends (financially, reputationally, morally).”

Lastly, to succeed as a sustainable tourism professional, “make sure that a career in sustainable tourism is what you really want to pursue, not just follow the trend.” Wise words by Laos-based hospitality teacher Soulinnara Ratanavong .

3. Collect field experience

Many topics, especially in the humanities, are well suited for theoretical work and academic research with the chance of recognition and a successful career. From what we hear, tourism isn’t usually part of them. Your best bet to succeed in making a real difference is thus to get your hands dirty as a tourism practitioner. And to become one, you’ll want to collect experience early on.

Masaru Takayama , a Japanese advisor, business owner and the founding Chair of the Asian Ecotourism Network, puts it like this:

“I always say to students, you need to first learn how to write a good resume. To do so, you will need some working experience. What you learn in the book is good, but better if you combine with the field experience. You can never drive a car well just reading the manual.”

By collecting field experience, you also widen your horizon, which is essential for success as tourism professional. Traveling and living different experiences will give you a more comprehensive view of the world, and the role that tourism plays in it, notes Nuria Chacon of Spanish ecotourism agency and consultancy STIPA.

An ideal situation would be for you to get experience across both the private and public sectors. As Tony Charters of Ecotourism Australia recalls, “having that broader experience has been invaluable to me over the years as it helps you to see the perspectives and motivators of both sectors.”

4. Don’t try and reinvent the wheel

Sometimes, when we’re very passionate about something, we become so focused that we don’t see what’s already there. Starting up from scratch is also very time and energy consuming. Instead, if you want to make a difference, follow the advice of Brian Mullis and “determine how you can support and/or complement existing initiatives.”

Or, in the words of Tensie Whelan , former President of the Rainforest Alliance: “Don’t reinvent the wheel. Go to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the UN World Travel Organization, and other organizations active in sustainable tourism for help.”

5. Focus on impact, not outputs

In the academic world, number of publications is often more important than their usefulness for society, for example when hunting for a job. What really matters – or should matter – though isn’t outputs, but the impact you are making: be it with your research publication or as a practitioner.

Focus on outcomes, not outputs, is thus the advice of Brian Mullis ,  which is shared by Xavier Font , Professor at Surrey University in the U.K.. He suggests his students to:

“Work with industry, make sure your research has impact, record what difference you are making to the behaviour of others. Most research grants now rely on evidence of that impact.”

6. Network!

Networking is a must for a successful career in most professions, and tourism is no exception. So please follow the advice of Dagmar Lund-Durlacher and get engaged with networks. Sustainable tourism networks are easy to find and free to join, both online and offline.

Much professional online networking takes place on LinkedIn, so the first step here is to create yourself a LinkedIn profile, so you can join relevant groups there, suggests D’Arcy Dornan , Brazil Country Representative of the GSTC. He also recommends to “attend trade show events, conferences, meetings and introduce yourself to people (always asking for their business cards).”

On LinkedIn, you might want to make sure to actively participate by contributing useful comments and information.

The flagship events for tourism professionals are the annual ITB in Berlin (March) and World Travel Market (November) in London. That said, there are now events smaller but similar to those two on almost every continent. Both ITB and WTM have dedicated networking events for tourism pros working towards sustainability. To meet someone at those events, make sure to get in touch and ask for time a few months before.

7. Never give up

In tourism, as with sustainability, change can be frustratingly slow. Be patient and don’t give up is essential advice which various leading professionals shared with us. Passion is the key, together with “a great deal of belief and tenacity”, to quote Justin Francis , founder of ResponsibleTravel.com.

Natalia Naranjo , sustainable tourism advisor and lecturer in Colombia, also advocates this combination of passion, belief and tenacity: “Love what you do, learn every day and don´t give up on sustainability.. we are on our way and we are becoming a big force.”

This of course is easier said than done, since we all need to make ends meet. For Fiona Jeffery , the best way to go about this is to “balance short term issues with long term goals.”

As entrepreneurs, Nuria & Alberto of STIPA know all to well how difficult it can be to get started:

“Regardless of your training, you need perseverance, professionalism and dedication to gain a foothold and recognition in the field in which your business operates. And, this takes time, so you have to be patient and take into account this period of establishment in your business plan.”

Let’s finish with the wise words of Rachel Dodds , sustainable tourism advisor and professor at Ryerson University in Canada: “Do what you are passionate about… don’t get discouraged by rejections and remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

8. Don’t be a dreamer: Make it financially viable

Another important piece of advice comes from Valere Tjolle , who recommends career starters or entrepreneurs to “try to make it economically viable for yourself and the industry.” We also share the sentiment of Tony Charters , who stresses that just like any other business, hotels or tours focused on sustainable tourism must be profitable to succeed. Right he is!

9. Bring the right mindset and think outside the box

Keeping an open mind is important for many jobs, but an absolute essential part of a career dedicated to tourism and sustainability. As Erik van Dijk of Green Key Netherlands notes: “Look to developments of sustainability in other business sectors. There are a lot of innovations the tourism industry can take profit of. Think out of the box!”

Justin Francis ‘ personal story illustrates the point:

“When I told Anita Roddick from The Body Shop that I planned to start my own company she got out a very large piece of paper and drew a line down the middle of it. She asked me to write the ‘conventions and norms’ of the industry down one side, then on the other suggested I find a way to do things different and break every rule. Our industry has ‘coded in’ some very selfish and unsustainable behaviour. Understanding and breaking those codes, and developing a deep understanding of your customer, will lead to success.”

Equally valuable is the advice from Stewart Moore , the founder and CEO of EarthCheck in Australia: “Always take a 360 degree perspective on how to approach any sustainability challenge. Be happy to step back and seek other perspectives and ideas no matter how counter intuitive they may seem at first.”

This already starts when choosing your studies which, in the eyes of Nuria and Alberto of STIPA, are ideally a combination of “training in marketing, tourism and the environment.”

10. Watch and stay close to sustainability leaders

Last but not least, keep an eye on the leaders – either those in charge at your organisation or leading professionals whose work you admire. Says Dagmar Lund-Durlacher : “Stay close to decision makers. If a sustainability approach is not supported by the decision makers of an organization or business, it most likely will fail.”

Let’s conclude our tips for a successful career dedicated to sustainable tourism with this quote of Susan Santos de Cardenas , ecotourism expert from the Philippines:

As the saying goes, leadership is not a position, but action and by example, so even if new graduates are starting out in their careers, they should look up and emulate role models and advocate sustainability ethos.

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Career Choice: Why Focus on Tourism and Sustainability?

What Inspires Tourism Professionals to Focus their Career on Sustainability?

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GSTC – Global Sustainable Tourism Council

The GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) is a non-governmental organization established in 2007 with the support of UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme – and UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organization – to promote sustainability and social responsibility in the tourism sector.

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About the certification.

GSTC is the global standard or norm for sustainable tourism and is comparable to other frameworks like MSC or FSC. In addition, GSTC Certification is a third party audit of a tourism business or destination to the GSTC standard.

Control Union is a GSTC accredited Certification Body. GSTC Accreditation plays an important role to assure impartiality, quality, competence and credibility of the process and the certification itself.

GSTC Certification can help tourism businesses to redefine the way they do business, for the benefit of both people and planet. This sustainability journey presents invaluable opportunities for tourism businesses and destinations for improvements, reflections, endowing credibility and connecting with host communities.

Sustainable Tourism

The travel and tourism sector is recovering strongly after the pandemic. It is expected that it will not take long before previous records will be reached again. At the same time, there is also a strong call in the sector to embed sustainable tourism and to ‘build back better’. Tourism needs to be managed responsibly to create a positive cycle of impacts on local communities, culture, environment and economies. This requires responsibility and actions from both tourism businesses and other stakeholders. At the same time, it provides plenty of challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Control Union Certifications (CUC) offers a global one-stop-shop for GSTC certification and a wide range of certification programmes

CUC is an Accredited Certification Body for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Industry standards. This means we have been awarded certification according to processes that comply with the highest international standards and good practices

CUC can offer GSTC certification for both individual tourism enterprises as well as for groups of e.g. hotels or tour operators (group certification)

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By obtaining GSTC certification, you enjoy the following benefits:

Compliance with the highest social and environmental standards in the world & credible communication on your sustainability performance supported by use of the certified logo

Audited and certified by an accredited certification body with the highest level of impartiality and credibility & better connections with consumers who now expect independently verified green credentials

Happy guests = higher ratings. Certified businesses receive better reviews and ratings. This proves that certification boosts management and quality of services. Enhanced brand reputation as you are connected to a commitment to local communities and the environment

Better business and better risk management through regular review of operations and processes e.g. certified businesses manage their waste, water and energy much better and use less! Apart from significant cost savings, it is much better for the environment, host communities and your business

Local and global recognition towards businesses, governments, customers and host communities & preferred choice for bed banks, OTA’s , (business) travel companies etc. that highlight credible, sustainable travel options

How can I help you?

Are you looking for a certain service, do you have any questions or do you want to apply for the certification program? Let me know. My name is Seth Wang and I’m glad to be of help.

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WTTC Announces Final Line-Up for its 24th Global Summit in Perth, Western Australia

Leaders from the world’s leading Travel & Tourism businesses set to address delegates  

London, UK: The World Travel and Tourism ( WTTC ) today announced its full stellar line-up for its 24th Global Summit in Perth, Western Australia (8-10 Oct), with 68th U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin set to take to the stage. During a fireside chat with Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, Secretary Kerry will share insights in navigating the international political landscape, forging strong alliances, and facilitating international cooperation for a more resilient and sustainable future. Son of the legendary Steve Irwin, Robert will share unforgettable stories from his adventures in the wild, and how Travel & Tourism can play a vital role in creating a future where nature is enjoyed while being protected and celebrated. Under the theme "Ancient Land: New Perspectives," this year’s Global Summit will spotlight Australia's rich cultural heritage and natural wonders, emphasising its innovation and sustainable growth. The global tourism body is also delighted to announce that alongside Julia Simpson and WTTC Chair Greg O’Hara, the Hon. Roger Cook MLA, Premier Western Australia, will open the Global Summit on 9 Oct. Industry trailblazers from across the globe will come together in the West Australian capital to continue efforts for a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future in Travel & Tourism.  Notable speakers include Di Bain, Chair, Tourism Western Australia; Audrey Hendley, President, American Express Travel; Matt Goldberg, President & Group CEO, Tripadvisor; Jane Sun, Group CEO, Trip.com; Frank Marini, President & CEO, Railbookers Group; Jason Waters, CEO, Perth Airport; Kelly Craighead, President & CEO, CLIA; Francis Gatare, CEO, Rwanda Development Board; Christie Travers-Smith, Head of Retail and Travel EMEA Partnerships, Google, and many other business leaders from around the world. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “We are delighted to have such influential speakers confirmed for our Global Summit in the beautiful city of Perth. “This is our first ever major event in the Oceania region, and it will bring together many of the world’s most powerful leaders in our sector to discuss and secure its long-term future, which is critical to economies and jobs around the world.” Official government delegations from around the world and representing more than 25 countries will be in attendance, with delegations from several G20 economies, including Argentina, Australia, China, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S.  Delegations from other major economies include Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, and the UAE, will also be participating, with the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Bahamas and Fiji also in attendance. A new addition to WTTC’s Global Summit, the Investors’ Nest will see university students from around the world pitch their ideas for sustainable tourism to Travel & Tourism investors in a Shark Tank-style format. The winner will be announced during at the end of the Global Summit. Visit WTTC Travel & Tourism Global Summit Perth to learn more. Download Press Release  

WTTC Heads Down Under for 2024 Global Summit

Robert Irwin Announced as Speaker for WTTC's Global Summit in Perth, Western Australia

68th U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Headline WTTC Global Summit

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Welcome to our recruitment page where we post all permanent, temporary and voluntary opportunities with GSTC.

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There are no open positions available at the moment. If you’d like to be the first to hear about new opportunities and what we’re up to,   follow us on LinkedIn and sign up to our GSTC Monthly Newsletter to hear about new opportunities.

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Any volunteer or internship opportunities will be advertised here.

If you send us speculative CVs, we might not be able to reply.

We expect you to be familiar with the GSTC, for example taking one of the courses, attending an event, etc.

Our people make the mission possible

GSTC is made up of passionate, dedicated team from around the world, united by a common mission to support a more sustainable tourism sector based on shared standards and proper assurance of claims.

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Interested in joining us? Learn more about who we are, how we work, and what we’re supporting.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC®) is managing the GSTC Criteria, as well as providing international accreditation for sustainable tourism Certification Bodies.

The GSTC Criteria  serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. The Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising. They’re used for policy-making, measurement and evaluation reasons and as a basis for certification.

They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are categorized in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.

These standards were built on decades of prior work from industry experts around the globe. During the process of development, they were widely consulted in both developed and developing countries. They reflect our goal in attaining a global consensus on sustainable tourism.

The process of developing the Criteria was designed to adhere to the standards-setting code of the  ISEAL Alliance . The ISEAL Alliance is the international body providing guidance for the management of sustainability standards in all sectors. That code is informed by relevant ISO standards.

Finally, the GSTC Criteria are the starting goals that businesses, governments, and destinations should achieve. Tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws. Therefore, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.

You can also join one of the regular  GSTC Sustainable Tourism courses .

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Yekaterinburg city, Russia

The capital city of Sverdlovsk oblast .

Yekaterinburg - Overview

Yekaterinburg or Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk in 1924-1991) is the fourth most populous city in Russia (after Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk), the administrative center of the Ural Federal District and Sverdlovsk Oblast.

This city is one of the country’s largest transport and logistics hubs, as well as an important industrial center. It is unofficially called the “capital of the Urals.”

The population of Yekaterinburg is about 1,493,600 (2022), the area - 468 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 343, the postal codes - 620000-620920.

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Ekaterinburg city latest news and posts from our blog:.

26 May, 2020 / Unique Color Photos of Yekaterinburg in 1909 .

2 December, 2018 / Yekaterinburg - the view from above .

21 November, 2018 / Abandoned Railway Tunnel in Didino .

4 December, 2017 / Stadiums and Matches of the World Cup 2018 in Russia .

3 January, 2017 / Ekaterinburg, the Capital of the Urals: Then and Now .

More posts..

News, notes and thoughts:

4 April, 2011   / Free travel on new high-speed trains should allay fans' fears about long journey to Ekaterinburg - the most far-flung city on Russia's list of sites for 2018 World Cup. Let's hope the train will not break down in the middle of nowhere.

1 February, 2011   / Today is the 80th anniversary of the birth of Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia. President Medvedev today unveiled a monument to Yeltsin in his home city Ekaterinburg. First one in Russia.

History of Yekaterinburg

Foundation of yekaterinburg.

The territory along the Iset River, which served as a convenient transport route from the Ural Mountains deep into Siberia, has long attracted settlers. The oldest of the currently discovered settlements on the territory of present Yekaterinburg was located next to the Palkinsky Stone Tents rock massif and dates back to the 6th millennium BC.

From the 7th-3rd centuries BC, ancient metallurgists who mastered the smelting of copper lived in this settlement. Copper figures of birds, animals, people, arrowheads, various household items were found here. Later they learned how to make iron products. All discovered settlements were destroyed as a result of fires, possibly during raids of the conquerors.

The territory occupied by present Yekaterinburg became part of Russia in the middle of the 17th century. At that time, it had practically no permanent population. The first Russian settlements were founded in the second half of the 17th century. At the beginning of the 18th century, the first ironworks were built here.

In the spring of 1723, by decree of Emperor Peter I, the construction of the largest iron-making plant in Russia began on the banks of the Iset River. Construction began on the initiative of Vasily Tatishchev (a prominent Russian statesman). He was supported by Georg Wilhelm de Gennin (a German-born Russian military officer and engineer), on the initiative of which the fortress plant was named Yekaterinburg in honor of Empress Catherine I (Yekaterina in Russian), the wife of Peter I.

More Historical Facts…

The historic birthday of Yekaterinburg is November 18, 1723. On this day, a test run of the plant equipment was carried out. Its main products included iron, cast iron, and copper. In 1725, the Yekaterinburg Mint began production on the territory of the fortress and became the main producer of copper coins in the Russian Empire. Until 1876, it produced about 80% of the country’s copper coins. In the 1720s, the population of Yekaterinburg was about 4,000 people.

Yekaterinburg - one of the economic centers of the Russian Empire

In the middle of the 18th century, the first ore gold in Russia was discovered in this region, which was the beginning of the gold industry in the country. As a result, Yekaterinburg became the center of a whole system of densely located plants and began to develop as the capital of the mining region, which spread on both sides of the Ural Range.

In 1781, Catherine II granted Yekaterinburg the status of a county town in the Perm Governorate. The population of the town was about 8,000 people. In 1783, the town received a coat of arms depicting an ore mine and a melting furnace, which symbolized its mining and metallurgical industries (similar images are depicted on the current coat of arms and flag of Yekaterinburg).

In 1783, the Great Siberian Road was opened - the main road of the Russian Empire that passed through Yekaterinburg. It served as an impetus for the transformation of Yekaterinburg into a transport hub and a center of trade. Thus, Yekaterinburg, among other towns of the Perm Governorate, became the key town for the development of the boundless and rich Siberia, the “window to Asia”, just as St. Petersburg was the Russian “window to Europe.”

In 1808, the Yekaterinburg plant was closed, and the history of the town entered a new stage related to the development of a large regional center with a diversified economy. At the beginning of the 19th century, the gold mining industry flourished. At the same time, deposits of emeralds, sapphires, aquamarines, diamonds, and other precious, semiprecious, and ornamental stones were discovered in the Urals. Yekaterinburg became one of the world centers for their artistic processing.

After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the mining industry of the Urals experienced a severe crisis, a number of plants were closed. In 1878, the first railway was constructed across the Urals and connected Yekaterinburg with Perm. In 1888, the Yekaterinburg-Tyumen railway was built, and in 1897 - the railway to Chelyabinsk, which provided access to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Yekaterinburg became a major railway junction, which contributed to the development of the local food industry, especially flour milling. In 1913, the population of Yekaterinburg was about 69,000 people.

Yekaterinburg in the first years of Soviet power

On November 8, 1917, Soviet power was established in Yekaterinburg. On April 30, 1918, the last Russian emperor Nicholas II and his family members with a few servants were transported from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg. They were placed in the “House of Special Purpose”, the mansion of engineer Nikolai Ipatiev requisitioned for this purpose, and transferred under the supervision and responsibility of the Ural Regional Soviet.

In July 1918, units of the White Siberian army approached Yekaterinburg, under this pretext the leadership of the Ural Regional Soviet decided to shoot the imperial family. On the night of July 16-17, 1918, it was done in the basement of the Ipatiev House.

10 days later, units of the Czechoslovak Legion entered Yekaterinburg. Over the next 12 months, it was under the control of anti-Bolshevik forces. On July 14, 1919, the Red Army reoccupied the city. Soviet authorities and the Yekaterinburg Province with a center in Yekaterinburg were restored. In 1920, the population of the city was about 94,400 people.

The political center of the Urals moved from Perm to Yekaterinburg. In 1923, Yekaterinburg became the administrative center of the vast Ural Oblast, which in size exceeded the territory of the present Ural Federal District of Russia. In 1924, the city council decided to rename the capital of the new region to Sverdlovsk - in honor of Yakov Sverdlov, a Bolshevik party administrator and chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

Sverdlovsk - a Soviet industrial giant

During the years of Stalin’s industrialization, Sverdlovsk was turned into a powerful industrial center. The old factories were reconstructed and new large factories were built, including giant machine-building and metal processing plants. In 1933, the construction of the future flagship of Soviet engineering (Uralmash) was completed. The population of Sverdlovsk grew by more than 3 times, and it became one of the fastest growing cities in the USSR.

January 17, 1934, Ural Oblast was divided into three regions - Sverdlovsk Oblast with a center in Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast with a center in Chelyabinsk, and Ob-Irtysh Oblast with a center in Tyumen. By the end of the 1930s, there were 140 industrial enterprises, 25 research institutes, 12 higher educational institutions in Sverdlovsk. In 1939, the population of the city was about 425,500 people.

Along with other Ural cities, Sverdlovsk made a significant contribution to the victory of the USSR in the Second World War. In total, more than 100,000 residents of the city joined the Red Army. 41,772 people didn’t return from the war: 21,397 - killed in battles, 4,778 - died from wounds in hospitals, 15,491 - went missing, 106 - died in prisoner of war camps.

Sverdlovsk became the largest evacuation point, more than 50 large and medium enterprises from the western regions of Russia and Ukraine were evacuated here. During the war years, industrial production in Sverdlovsk grew 7 times.

After the war, this city became the largest center for engineering and metalworking in Russia. During the Cold War, Sverdlovsk, as a key center of the defense industry, was practically closed to foreigners. In 1960, in the sky above the city, Soviet air defense shot down the U-2 spy plane of the US manned by Francis Gary Powers.

On January 23, 1967, a millionth resident was born in the city and Sverdlovsk became one of the first Russian cities with a population of more than 1 million people. In 1979, Sverdlovsk was included in the list of historical cities of Russia.

On October 4, 1988, a serious accident occurred at the Sverdlovsk railway station. The train carrying almost 100 tons of explosives rolled downhill and crashed into a coal freight train. An explosion occurred, aggravated by the proximity of a large warehouse of fuels and lubricants. The funnel at the site of the explosion had a diameter of 40-60 meters and a depth of 8 meters, the shock wave spread 10-15 kilometers. The explosion killed 4 people at the station and injured more than 500 people. About 600 houses were severely damaged.

Yekaterinburg - one of the largest cities of the Russian Federation

On September 4, 1991, the Sverdlovsk City Council of People’s Deputies decided to return the city its original name - Yekaterinburg. The population of the city was about 1,375,000 people. The restrictions on foreign visitors to the city were also lifted, and soon the first consulate general was opened here - the United States of America (in 1994).

The transition to a market economy led to a reduction in production at industrial enterprises, inert giant plant found themselves in a particularly difficult situation. In 1991, the construction of the television tower was stopped. The city was flooded with chaotic small retail trade in temporary pavilions and markets. These years were the heyday of organized crime, Yekaterinburg became one of the “criminal capitals” of Russia. The economic situation began to improve by the end of the 1990s.

In 2000-2003, the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land was built on the site of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. In 2008-2009, the Koltsovo Airport was reconstructed. In June 15-17, 2009, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRIC (Brasilia, Russia, India, China) summits were held in Yekaterinburg.

In 2015, the Presidential Center of Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, was opened in Yekaterinburg. On March 24, 2018, the abandoned unfinished television tower was dismantled. It was the tallest building in the city (almost 240 meters) and became one of the symbols of Yekaterinburg. 4 matches of FIFA World Cup 2018 were played in Yekaterinburg.

Today, Yekaterinburg is the largest center of attraction not only of Sverdlovsk Oblast, but also of the surrounding regions. By some socio-economic indicators, this city ranks third in Russia, after Moscow and St. Petersburg. Along with the development of trade and business, the city lost the status of the country’s largest industrial center.

On the streets of Yekaterinburg

Soviet-era apartment buildings in Yekaterinburg

Author: Alex Kolm

In the central part of Yekaterinburg

Author: Serg Fokin

Yekaterinburg street view

Author: Krutikov S.V.

Yekaterinburg - Features

Yekaterinburg is located in the floodplain of the Iset River on the eastern slope of the Middle Urals in Asia, near its border with Europe, about 1,800 km east of Moscow. Since the Ural Mountains are very old, there are no significant hills in the city.

This relief was a favorable condition for the construction of the main transport routes from Central Russia to Siberia (the Siberian Route and the Trans-Siberian Railway) through Yekaterinburg. As a result, it has become one of the most strategically important centers of Russia, which still provides a link between the European and Asian parts of the country.

Yekaterinburg is located in the border zone of temperate continental and continental climates. It is characterized by a sharp variability in weather conditions with well-defined seasons. The Ural Mountains, despite their low height, block the way to the masses of air coming from the west from the European part of Russia.

As a result, the Middle Urals is open to the invasion of cold Arctic air and continental air of the West Siberian Plain. At the same time, warm air masses of the Caspian Sea and the deserts of Central Asia can freely enter this territory from the south.

That is why the city is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations and the formation of weather anomalies: in winter from severe frosts to thaws and rains, in summer from heat above plus 35 degrees Celsius to frosts. The average temperature in January is minus 12.6 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

The city has a rather unfavorable environmental situation due to air pollution. In 2016, Yekaterinburg was included in the list of Russian cities with the worst environmental situation by this indicator. Car emissions account for more than 90% of all pollution.

Yekaterinburg ranks third in Russia (after Moscow and St. Petersburg) in the number of diplomatic missions, while their consular districts extend far beyond Sverdlovsk Oblast, and serve other regions of the Urals, Siberia, and the Volga region.

In terms of economy, Yekaterinburg also ranks third in the country. It is one of the largest financial and business centers of Russia. The main branches of production: metallurgical production and metalworking, food production, production of electrical equipment, electronic and optical equipment, production of vehicles, production of machinery and equipment, chemical production.

Almost all types of urban public transport are presented in Yekaterinburg: buses, trolleybuses, trams, subways, taxis. Yekaterinburg is the third largest transportation hub in Russia: 6 federal highways, 7 main railway lines, as well as Koltsovo International Airport, one of the country’s largest airports. The location of Yekaterinburg in the central part of the region allows you to get from it to any major city of the Urals in 7-10 hours.

Yekaterinburg has an extensive scientific and technical potential, it is one of the largest scientific centers in Russia. The Presidium and about 20 institutes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 66 research institutes, and about 30 universities are located here.

This city is a relatively large tourist center. A significant part of tourists visit it to honor the memory of the last Russian emperor and his family killed by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in 1918.

There are about 50 different museums in Yekaterinburg. One of the world’s largest collections of constructivist architectural monuments has been preserved here. In total, there are over 600 historical and cultural monuments in the city, of which 43 are objects of federal significance. The City Day of Yekaterinburg is celebrated on the third Saturday of August.

Interesting facts about Yekaterinburg

• It was founded by the decree of the first Russian Emperor Peter I and the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II was shot here;
• In 1820, the roof of the UK Parliament building in London was made of roofing iron produced in Yekaterinburg;
• Ural steel was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris;
• Ural copper was used in the construction of the Statue of Liberty in New York;
• During the Second World War, Sverdlovsk was the center of broadcasting in the USSR;
• Equipment for the world’s deepest borehole (Kola Superdeep Borehole, 12,262 meters) was produced in Yekaterinburg;
• Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, began his political career in Yekaterinburg;
• Minor planet #27736 Yekaterinburg, discovered by the Belgian astronomer Eric Elst on September 22, 1990, was named in honor of this city;
• Two most northern skyscrapers in the world are located in Yekaterinburg: the Iset residential tower (209 m) and the Vysotsky business center (188 m), they are the tallest buildings throughout Russia east of Moscow.

Pictures of Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg city view

Author: Andrey Zagaynov

Modern architecture in Yekaterinburg

Author: Yury Baranov

The territory of the central stadium of Yekaterinburg before reconstruction

Author: Sergey Likhota

Main Attractions of Yekaterinburg

Sevastyanov House - a palace of the first quarter of the 19th century built in the architectural styles of pseudo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and Moorish traditions and painted in green, white, and red tones. Today, it is the most beautiful building in Yekaterinburg and one of its symbols. The house stands on the promenade of the Iset River, very close to the city dam. Lenina Avenue, 35.

“Plotinka” - the dam of the city pond on the Iset River built in the 18th century. From an architectural point of view, it is an ordinary bridge. However, it is of particular importance for the residents of Yekaterinburg since the construction of the entire city started from this place. Today, this is the main place for festivities in Yekaterinburg. Lenina Avenue.

Observation Deck of the Business Center “Vysotsky” - an open-air observation deck on the 52nd floor at an altitude of 168 meters. From here you can enjoy the views of all of Yekaterinburg. On the second and third floors of this skyscraper there is the memorial museum of Vladimir Vysotsky - a singer, songwriter, and actor who had an immense effect on Soviet culture. Malysheva Street, 51.

Vaynera Street - the central avenue of Yekaterinburg, the so-called “Ural Arbat”. One of its parts from Kuibysheva Street to Lenina Avenue is a pedestrian street. This is one of the oldest streets in Yekaterinburg laid in the middle of the 18th century. Along it, you can see merchant mansions, shops, administrative buildings, most of which were built in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.

Rastorguev-Kharitonov Palace (1794-1824) - one of the most valuable architectural manor and park ensembles in Yekaterinburg, an architectural monument of federal significance built in the classical style and located in the city center. Karla Libknekhta Street, 44.

Church of the Ascension (1792-1818) - one of the oldest churches in Yekaterinburg located next to the Rastorguev-Kharitonov Palace. This beautiful building combines the features of baroque, pseudo-Russian style, and classicism. Klary Tsetkin Street, 11.

Yeltsin Center - a cultural and educational center dedicated to the contemporary history of Russia, as well as the personality of its first president, Boris Yeltsin. The museum dedicated to his life is one of the best museums in Russia. Borisa Yeltsina Street, 3.

Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts - the largest art museum in the Urals housed in two buildings. This museum is best known for its unique collection of Kasli art castings and the world-famous Kasli cast iron pavilion - a participant in the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.

The following collections can also be found here: Russian paintings of the 18th - early 20th centuries, Russian avant-garde of 1910-1920, Russian porcelain and glass of the 18th - 20th centuries, Russian icon painting of the 16th-19th centuries, Western European art of the 14th-19th centuries, stone-carving and jewelry art of the Urals, Zlatoust decorated weapons and steel engraving. Voevodina Street, 5; Vaynera Street, 11.

Museum of the History of Stone-Cutting and Jewelry Art . A unique collection of this museum consists of gem minerals, works of jewelers and stone-cutters of the Urals, and products created at the Ural lapidary factory. The museum has Malachite and Bazhov halls, the Emerald Room, and several exhibition galleries where visitors can see works made of colored stone and metal created by local artists. Lenina Avenue, 37.

Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore . At first, its collection consisted of four departments: mineralogical, botanical, zoological, and paleontological. Later, numismatic, ethnographic, and anthropological sections were added. Today, there are more than 700 thousand exhibits here. Lenina Avenue, 69/10.

Museum of the History of Yekaterinburg . This museum occupies a historic building of the 19th century. In addition to the main exhibition, you can see the wax figures of Peter the Great, Catherine II, Nicholas II, the Ural manufacturers Demidov, and the founders of Yekaterinburg.

Old Railway Station of Yekaterinburg - one of the most beautiful and picturesque buildings in the city built in 1878. In 2003, after a large-scale reconstruction, the Museum of the History of Science and Technology of the Sverdlovsk Railway was opened here. Vokzal’naya Ulitsa, 14.

Yekaterinburg Circus . Visible from a lot of points of the city, the building of the Yekaterinburg Circus is known for its amazing dome consisting of trellised openwork semi-arches, which is not typical for circuses in Russia. 8 Marta Street, 43.

White Tower (1929-1931) - a former water tower 29 meters high located at a certain distance from the center of Yekaterinburg, an architectural monument of Constructivism. Today, it is used as a cultural site. Bakinskikh Komissarov Street, 2?.

Keyboard Monument - a contemporary art object made on a scale of 30:1 in 2005. This 16x4 meter concrete keyboard consists of 104 keys spaced 15 cm apart. From here the famous tourist route “Red Line” begins (a self-guided tour of the historic city center). The monument is located on the embankment of the Iset River next to the House of the Merchant Chuvildin (Gorkogo Street, 14A).

Ekaterinburg city of Russia photos

Places of interest in yekaterinburg.

Sculpture of talking townspeople in Yekaterinburg

Author: Pichugin Mikhail

Old buildings in Yekaterinburg

Author: Andrew Golovin

Wooden Church of the Holy Martyr Arkady in Yekaterinburg

Author: Kutenyov Vladimir

Street transport of Yekaterinburg

Tram in Yekaterinburg

Author: Andrey Permyakov

Bus in Yekaterinburg

Author: Per Heitmann

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Destination Stewardship Report

May – august 2024  ( volume 5, issue 1).

The Destination Stewardship Report is a collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center, Center for Responsible Travel, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic world. Subscribe HERE .

The Los Angeles DMO Adopts Destination Stewardship

When a major city DMO starts getting hints that the old style of simply marketing major attractions isn’t quite satisfactory, some soul-searching ensues. Los Angeles Tourism CEO Adam Burke explains why they had to change, and how they did it. A key step: Change the bylaws.

To build an equitable, sustainable future, Los Angeles Tourism recasts itself a “destination stewardship organization”

When the team at the Destination Stewardship Center asked if I could share some of the work we’re doing in Los Angeles around equity and sustainability, I was somewhat reluctant since there is exceptional work being done by numerous DMOs around the world. There is no shortage of good ideas and best practices… READ MORE →

The Encouraging if Uneven Rise of Destination Stewardship

COMMENTARY BY THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jonathan Tourtellot first began promoting the idea of destination stewardship around 2002 during his days at National Geographic Traveler magazine. He’s been at it ever since. Here’s what he likes – and doesn’t like – about the new rise in popularity of the approach.

The concept is gaining traction, at least in part

Quite a few years ago, I remember being shown photos of a new beachfront resort development in Mexico. Doesn’t matter where. The developer and government participants proudly pointed out that the buildings were all LEED certified. Energy efficient. Very nice, but… READ MORE →

Nepal’s Community Homestay Network

Popular hiking trails around the world are prone to developing knots of overtourism at access points. With their multi-decade experience in trekking tourism, it’s no surprise that that the Nepalese have developed some innovative responses. Yvonne Montoya describes how one village takes tourism pressure off another.

Homestays can reduce trekking congestion, enrich villagers, and deepen tourist experiences

In central Nepal, the village of Tatopani, known for its natural therapeutic hot springs and amazing views of the Himalayas is located along the Annapurna Circuit, one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal… READ MORE →

Engaging Travelers in Destination Stewardship

The stream of tourists who visit a destination become part of that destination. What they say, what they do, how they spend, how they behave – as guests or invaders? – makes a difference. Increasingly, destination organizations want to brief their visitors on doing no harm, even doing some good. Purdue’s Dr. Jonathon Day explains how the Travel with Care initiative aims to help DMOs accustomed to marketing the place learn how to market good behavior.

How can destinations help clueless visitors become thoughtful guests?

At a time when tourists are being vilified, it is important to remember that travelers can play a key role in destination stewardship.

The Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel Lab, together with Miles Partnership, has launched a new program – Travel with Care — designed to support destinations working to encourage better travel behaviors… READ MORE →

Pioneering Community-Owned Tourism in the Maldives

The ritzy resorts of the Maldives, each perched on its own atoll, have left most islanders out of the tourism equation. Shannon McCarthy and Chloe King describe how a community-based guesthouse model may change things. Their first problem was how to convince the community.

One resort per atoll did little for Maldive islanders. Was there another way?

For many, the Maldives is the ultimate tropical paradise with clear turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and abundant marine life. In 2023, the Ministry of Tourism reported 1.88 million tourist arrivals, a 12.6% increase from 2022’s 1.67 million. However, while tourism remains the backbone of the Maldives’ economy… READ MORE →

Two Winners from the Top 100

Every year, Green Destinations organizes the Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition, which invites submissions from around the world – a vetted collection of stories spotlighting local and regional destinations that are making progress toward sustainable management of tourism and its impacts. From the winners, we’ve selected stories from Albania and Jordan. Synopses by Ailin Fei & Yvonne Montoya.

Belsh’s Hidden Heritage

Top 100 submission by Paolina Rusta, Tourism Specialist / Sustainability Coordinator, Municipality of Belsh.

Embracing Aphrodite’s Shrine to Build a Thriving Tourist Destination

Belsh, Albania, known for its karst lakes, olive-covered hills, and rich heritage, spans just under 200 km² and is home to 33,632 residents, mainly farmers and fishers known for their hospitality. During the dictatorial rule in Albania, the people of Belsh were… READ MORE →

The Birds of Aqaba

Top 100 submission by Feras Rahahleh, Aqaba Bird Observatory Director.

How the observatory created a flourishing artificial bird sanctuary in the desert

The Aqaba Bird Observatory is an eco-friendly oasis for birds migrating between Eurasia and Africa and for bird watchers hoping to see the over 270 different species of birds it attracts. The artificial wetlands offer shallow and deep waters, herbal plants and a variety… READ MORE →

Note: Descriptions are taken from publisher blurbs.

Report: Travel Foundation (2024). Climate Justice in Tourism (pdf). Highlights the role the travel industry must play in delivering a just climate transition. Explores why to look at tourism through a climate justice lens and the risks of not doing so.

McLeod, M., Dodds, R., & Butler, R. (2024). Island Tourism Sustainability and Resiliency . Routledge. Challenges faced by island tourism destinations and theoretical and practical paths for building in sustainability and resiliency.

Isaac, R.K., Nawijn, J., Farkić, J., & Klijs, J. (2024). Tourism Interventions, Making or Breaking Places . Routledge. Pros and cons of various types of tourism interventions, with discussions on community resilience, creative placemaking, and participatory approaches.

Pechlaner, H., Innerhofer, E., & Philipp, J. (2024). From Overtourism to Sustainability Governance . Routledge. How destinations can be managed for long-term resilience and sustainability.

Selected Destination Stewardship Plans Destination Door County [Wisconsin, USA] (2024). Destination Stewardship Plan . Stewardship Tahoe (2023). Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan . Visit California (2022). Destination Stewardship Smart and Sustainable Recovery. A How-To Planning Guide .

Destination Monitor

Notable News on Stewardship Developments Around the World

➢ Ugandans Protest Marketing a Circumcision Ritual to Tourists | Big News

➢ Kushner Seeks to Trumpify a Wild Albanian Coast | Washington Post Environmentalists question resort planned by Trump’s son-in-law

➢ Vietnam Deepens Historic-Site Experiences with Gamification | ANN The challenge: Learn by having fun while trying to keep it real.

➢ Canadians Start Recovery in Wildfire-Ravaged Jasper Town and National Park | Edmonton Journal

➢ Barcelona to Ban All Short-term Rentals by 2028 | Reuters Drastic measure driven by unavailable housing

➢ Saudi Arabia’s “The Line” – Not Sustainable | NY Times Iconic skyscrapers draw tourism, but at what cost?

➢ Antitourism Protests Spread in Spain | WSJ

➢ Destinations Try to Sort Good Tourists from Bad | BBC

➢ Ikuchijima: Japanese Island Revival | Monocle

➢ Greece to Restrict Cruise Ships | Tourism Review Santorini especially at issue

➢ 24 Destinations Crack Down on Overtourism | Independent From Portofino to Bhutan

➢ Smog-Beset Bangkok Gets a Big New Green Park | AP

➢  Climate Change Could Kill California’s Iconic Big Sur | Washington Post

➢ Milan at Night: Way Too Much Success | NY Times

DSC’s Destination Monitor offers continuing selections of news stories.

Sponsored by:

Executive Editor – Jonathan B. Tourtellot Scheduling, design & distribution – Tiffany Chan Photo Editor – Gabe Gerson Contributing editors – Alix Collins, Michele Archie, Devika McWalters Editorial assistance – Ailin Fei, Yvonne Montoya, Cindy Linnell, Frank Biasi, Paula Lewis DSC Webmaster – Tim Greenleaf

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