Good Travel Stories Competition
2026 Edition
The Good Travel Stories Competition is an initiative led by the Good Travel Institute in partnership with Outdooractive and the Good Travel Alliance which aims to translate technical sustainability into compelling, human-centric narratives. We believe that responsible destinations and service providers deserve more than just certification—they deserve the global visibility and market reach that matches the quality of their work and leads to action on the side of the traveller.
Target groups and audiences
The competition is open to eligible tourism entities (tourism boards, DMCs, service providers, trail management organisations, protected areas, SMEs …) who can showcase activities and (destination) offers that make responsible travel experienceable. The target audience for the stories is the B2C travel market: travellers and tourists. This strong B2C focus distinguishes the Good Travel Stories Award from industry-focused competitions.
The core requirement for a successful story is two-fold:
Inspiration & Engagement
The story must be told in an engaging, inspiring way, focusing on the traveler's experience and using a clear B2C tone. Submitters will be partnered with professional copywriters for the selected stories to ensure coherence and readability of the stories.
Experienceability & Action
The story must include clear, actionable links to the actual tourism products, routes, offers, or events that allow travelers to directly experience the good practices described.
Eligibility and integrity check
To safeguard the credibility of the award and provide an authoritative countermeasure against greenwashing, strict eligibility criteria are applied. The experience referred to in the story must be successfully verified by Green Destinations’ Good Travel Institute (GTI) with the GTE methodology. In addition, the provider of this experience should be successfully verified by, as a minimum, the Good Travel Scan (or be Travelife Certified for Tour Operators).
Participants can contribute up to three submissions in the competition. However, only one submission can be among the selected stories across all categories. Providers can only win one story per year.
Thematic Categories
The scheme will award the best stories across five experience-focused categories, allowing travelers to search for stories aligned with their interests. The categories are as follows:
Community Experiences
In this category, we seek stories that celebrate the heart of a destination through its people, local traditions, and social empowerment. We look for human-centric narratives where travelers can engage authentically with the host community and support initiatives that foster local well-being. These stories should demonstrate how responsible travel can empower marginalized groups and preserve the living heritage of a place.
Taste of Place Experiences
In this category, we seek stories that explore the unique flavors of a region through its culinary traditions and local value chains. We are looking for experiences that connect travelers to the land and the producers, turning a simple meal or product into a bookable journey of good practice. These narratives should highlight how culinary excellence and responsible sourcing go hand in hand to create exceptional traveler experiences.
Event Experiences
In this category, we seek stories that demonstrate how gatherings—from cultural festivals to sporting events—can be managed with responsibility at their core. We look for experiences that showcase innovative ways to reduce impact while maximizing the positive legacy for the local destination. These stories should prove that exceptional events can be both inspiring for travelers and respectful of the environment and community.
Adventure Experiences
In this category, we seek stories that capture the spirit of exploration through trail-based activities and outdoor adventure travel. We look for narratives that showcase how active travel can be seamlessly linked to responsible trail management and the preservation of natural landscapes and local livelihoods. These stories should inspire travelers to go beyond their comfort zone while causing no unnecessary harm.
Nature & Wildlife Experiences
In this category, we seek stories that highlight the profound beauty of the natural world and the critical work of biodiversity protection. We look for nature-based experiences that allow travelers to witness wildlife and pristine ecosystems through a lens of respect and verified good practice. These narratives should show how tourism can become a force for conservation, turning an awe-inspiring moment into a tangible contribution to the planet.
Story Selection Process
Submission
Fill out the submission form below
Eligibility check
We will pre-check all submissions to check eligibility and remove problematic or fake applications
Jury selection
Fill out the submission form
Story submission
Selected submitters are asked to provide either a story draft or more details.
Story Drafting
A dedicated copywriter will refine the story in a feedback loop with the submittor. The final version is promoted on the Outdooractive website. All selected stories per category are published and promoted.
Traveller Voting
The published stories are opened for voting by the wider community of travelers through Outdooractive. One story per category receives a Traveller Choice Award.
Meet last year's winners!
🌍 Winner: "Climate"
Coron Natural Farms (CNF) from the Philippines was recognized as the winner in the Climate category for their story “15–30 Community Garden Model.”, an accessible and replicable approach to climate resilience. In just 15 square meters, CNF cultivates 30 varieties of vegetables and herbs using regenerative agriculture principles. This model strengthens food security, promotes ecological farming practices, and empowers women, youth, and indigenous groups, showing how small-scale interventions can deliver significant climate and community impact. This initiative demonstrates that climate resilience does not require large areas of land or expensive technology, just ecological wisdom and collective commitment.
👫Winner: "People & Culture"
Community Tours Sian Ka’an from Mexico was recognized as the winner in the People & Culture category for their story “Community Tours Sian Ka’an: The Heartbeat of the Community.” The cooperative supports more than twelve neighbouring communities through knowledge-sharing, skill development, and cultural stewardship. Their tours honour Mayan heritage and worldview, offering visitors a meaningful connection to both culture and nature.Their work demonstrates how community-led tourism can safeguard cultural identity while generating inclusive economic benefits.
🌿Winner: "Nature"
Dongfu Water Sport Company from Taiwan was recognized as the winner in the Nature category for their inspiring story, “Dongyuping Island Guardianship Project,” which shows how tourism can restore ecosystems while empowering communities. By bringing together local youth and fishers, they created a community-led team responsible for ocean cleanups, coral restoration, ecological monitoring, cultural preservation, and low-carbon tourism.The initiative demonstrates measurable environmental recovery, strong local participation, and a practical model that other small tourism businesses can adopt.
❤️Winner: "People’s Choice"
Taiwan Miso Cultural Museum was recognized as the winner of the People’s Choice category for their story highlighting the preservation of miso heritage and traditional lacquer craftsmanship. By integrating cultural preservation with tourism, the museum provides a sustainable model that reinvests cultural experiences and product revenue back into the local community. Their work demonstrates how heritage can be transformed into a bridge between culture, community, and sustainability.
Discover the other stories that reached the Top 9:
Vegan Brunch Boat – URh
Trulli Orazio
En Ooru Tribal Heritage Village
Thamturakit Social Enterprise
ELaiolithos - Luxury Villa Suites
Categories
Eligibility:
To be a tourism-related business,
To be already checked or certified businesses of the Good Travel Seal or recognised with the Good Travel Scan
To submit an application based on one of the three given themes in the video or image category in accordance with the specified technical requirements.
Participation Fee:
A flat fee for participating in the event:
50 euros for businesses with up to 50 employees.
100 euros for businesses with more than 50 employees.
Prize:
Winners will be awarded promotional exposure, a discount on Good Travel Seal certification, and global recognition.
Important Notice: Awards, seals, recognitions, and competition results presented on this website do not constitute certification unless explicitly stated as “GSTC-certified against Green Destinations Standard” following independent third-party conformity assessment.
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