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Eco-Labelling for blue tourism destinations Peer-Learning meeting
February 2026
Last February, the Blue Tourism Initiative convened a peer-learning exchange dedicated to eco-labelling and certification in tourism. The session brought together project partners, pilot-level implementing actors, and invited experts, ensuring representation from across the three marine regions involved in the initiative: the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Western Indian Ocean. The meeting created an important space for dialogue and knowledge sharing, allowing participants to reflect on lessons learned from pilot experiences, discuss practical challenges, and explore how eco-labelling can contribute to quality, sustainability, and long-term resilience in coastal and island tourism destinations.
Building a Common Understanding of Eco-Labelling
The exchange began with a conceptual overview of eco-labelling in tourism, highlighting its role as a voluntary certification mechanism based on environmental and social performance criteria. Eco-labels translate sustainability commitments and policy frameworks into practical, verifiable actions for tourism operators, supported by transparent assessment and third-party verification processes.
Participants also reflected on the distinction between quality labels, eco-labels, and destination branding, emphasising that eco-labelling should be understood not as a one-off recognition, but as a continuous improvement process that encourages better environmental practices, strengthens trust in tourism markets, and helps businesses differentiate themselves in increasingly sustainability-conscious markets.
Key Lessons from the Discussion
Throughout the exchange, participants identified several key factors that can determine the success of eco-labelling initiatives in coastal and island contexts:
- A strong participatory and bottom-up approach that actively engages tourism operators, local authorities, and community actors
Realistic and accessible entry criteria that encourage broad participation among local stakeholders. - Clear certification procedures and third-party accreditation to ensure credibility and transparency
- Alignment with national sustainable tourism strategies and policy frameworks
- Long-term financial and governance sustainability to maintain and scale certification schemes
These elements were recognised as essential to ensure that eco-labels remain credible, inclusive, and adaptable to local realities.
Learning from the Sainte-Marie Experience
One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the eco-label pilot developed in Sainte-Marie (Madagascar). This experience illustrated how a locally tailored certification scheme can mobilise a wide range of actors and strengthen the identity of a destination committed to sustainable tourism.
In Sainte-Marie, the eco-label was developed through a highly participatory process, with stakeholders involved at every stage of the design and testing of the criteria. The scheme includes three levels of achievement, allowing tourism operators to progressively improve their practices while remaining engaged in the process. This progressive approach has helped ensure that the label remains accessible and realistic, particularly in contexts where infrastructure and technical capacities vary widely. At the same time, the local label is designed to serve as a stepping stone towards internationally recognised certifications, strengthening the destination’s positioning in global sustainable tourism markets.
Replication Potential Across Regions
Participants from St. Lucia (Caribbean), Djerba (Tunisia), and Lebanon expressed strong interest in exploring how similar eco-labelling approaches could be adapted to their own destinations. Discussions highlighted that while the core principles of eco-labelling are transferable, successful replication requires careful adaptation to local governance structures, tourism sectors, and stakeholder capacities. In particular, participants emphasised the importance of keeping certification processes simple, transparent, and well communicated, especially in contexts where technical or language barriers may limit participation.
Eco-Labelling as a Lever for Sustainable Tourism
The meeting ultimately reaffirmed that eco-labelling can be a powerful lever for quality-driven and environmentally responsible tourism. When developed through inclusive processes and aligned with national and local governance frameworks, eco-labels can help destinations move toward tourism models that prioritise environmental stewardship, community engagement, and long-term resilience. As the Blue Tourism Initiative continues to support pilot experiences across regions, these exchanges remain essential for sharing knowledge, building capacities, and fostering collaboration among destinations working toward more sustainable coastal and marine tourism.