Laois Set To Shine In 2026 European Green Pioneer Of Smart Tourism Award, Paving The Way For Sustainable Tourism

Published on September 3, 2025

In a important milestone for sustainable tourism, Laois has secured a spot connected nan shortlist for nan European Commission’s 2026 European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award. This nickname highlights Laois arsenic 1 of nan starring destinations committed to shaping nan early of sustainable recreation crossed Europe. The title is portion of an inaugural by nan European Commission, aimed astatine celebrating and promoting destinations that person embraced innovative greenish practices, peculiarly successful tourism.

Competing for nan Top Spot

Laois is group to compete alongside 7 different singular destinations for nan prestigious title of ‘European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism’. The shortlisted destinations see Dubrovnik successful Croatia, Geestland successful Germany, Ibiza successful Spain, Mariagerfjord successful Denmark, Marmaris successful Türkiye, Rebild successful Denmark, and Tartu successful Estonia. Each of these destinations has demonstrated a beardown committedness to integrating sustainability and innovative tourism practices into their offerings, making them guidelines retired arsenic domiciled models for different regions.

The announcement of Laois’ inclusion successful this distinguished shortlist is simply a testament to nan efforts made by section authorities, businesses, organization groups, and volunteers to foster a greenish modulation successful nan region. Their initiatives align pinch nan European Green Deal and its broader objectives of achieving climate-neutral, sustainable, and resilient tourism ecosystems crossed Europe.

Laois County Council’s Role successful Promoting Sustainability

The Laois County Council has played a pivotal domiciled successful ensuring that nan region stands retired for its committedness to regenerative tourism and ambiance action. Through various initiatives, Laois has successfully integrated sustainability into nan cloth of its tourism sector, mounting an illustration for different regions to follow.

Some of nan cardinal efforts that person contributed to Laois’ information see Portlaoise’s innovative low-carbon municipality and carrier solutions. These measures purpose to trim nan town’s c footprint while enhancing its entreaty arsenic a sustainable recreation destination. Alongside this, location person been galore regeneration and improvement projects successful towns and villages passim Laois, helping to sphere section practice while promoting eco-friendly tourism.

Another standout inaugural is nan restoration and conservation activity carried retired connected nan Abbeyleix Bog Project. This eager biology task is dedicated to nan preservation of Laois’ earthy landscapes, pinch a attraction connected biodiversity conservation. Additionally, nan ‘Portlaoise – Town successful a Garden’ inaugural has further cemented nan region’s estimation arsenic a pioneer of sustainable and nature-based tourism.

A Platform for Regenerative Tourism

The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award is designed to observe destinations that person not only embraced sustainability but person besides incorporated regenerative tourism principles into their operations. Regenerative tourism goes beyond reducing nan antagonistic impacts of tourism; it intends to reconstruct and regenerate earthy and taste assets, benefiting some section communities and nan environment.

Laois’ inclusion connected nan shortlist reflects nan county’s forward-thinking attack to tourism, which prioritizes biology protection, organization engagement, and semipermanent sustainability. These values resonate profoundly pinch nan European Commission’s extremity of encouraging tourism that contributes positively to section ecosystems, economies, and societies.

What’s Next for Laois successful nan Competition?

Delegates from Laois County Council will recreation to Brussels successful November 2025 to coming nan county’s achievements successful sustainable tourism to a European jury. This position will beryllium an opportunity to showcase nan region’s greenish initiatives and show really Laois is starring nan measurement successful innovative tourism practices. The European Commission will denote nan victor soon aft nan presentations, pinch nan winning destination group to beryllium recognized arsenic a pioneer successful sustainable tourism for nan future.

Laois is not conscionable competing for nan title; it is besides helping to raise consciousness astir nan value of adopting sustainable practices successful nan tourism industry. The county’s dedication to creating a greener, much sustainable early will service arsenic an inspiration for different destinations crossed Europe and beyond.

The Significance of nan European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award

The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award is an important nickname for immoderate destination progressive successful sustainable tourism. It not only celebrates nan accomplishments of nan shortlisted destinations but besides encourages further advancement towards greener tourism practices. For Laois, this information provides an invaluable opportunity to summation world nickname for nan efforts made successful fostering sustainable improvement while inspiring others to travel suit.

With nan world progressively focused connected ambiance action and sustainability, destinations for illustration Laois are mounting an important illustration of really tourism tin beryllium a unit for good. Through a operation of innovative greenish initiatives, section partnerships, and organization involvement, Laois is demonstrating that sustainable tourism is not conscionable a inclination but a basal displacement successful nan measurement we attack travel.

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Sustainable Tourism successful Laois

As Laois prepares to correspond Ireland successful nan competition, nan county’s advancement successful sustainable tourism will proceed to style its future. Whether aliases not Laois secures nan European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award, nan activity already accomplished will person a lasting effect connected nan region and its tourism industry.

This information serves arsenic a reminder that sustainable tourism is not a far-off extremity but a present-day reality. Laois is proving that moreover mini and mid-sized destinations tin make a meaningful quality successful nan pursuit of ambiance action and regenerative tourism.