Destination Greater Victoria in Canada has signed the commitment to start working towards Biosphere Certification. This is the start of a journey which will be completed once the destination has implemented certain sustainable actions based on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

However, Destination Greater Victoria was already working on a range of sustainability initiatives that will speed up the certification process. Examples are the creation of the IMPACT Sustainability Travel and Tourism Conference, the launch of a Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Offsetters Carbon Neutral designation.

Paul Nursey, Chief Executive of Destination Greater Victoria, said: "The signing of this Charter of Commitment is in line with the objectives of our Strategic Plan. Biosphere Certification is a world-class designation and sets a high standard for Destination Greater Victoria. We are ready to work with stakeholders and the wider community to improve sustainable tourism development and business practices.

Likewise, Patricio Azcárate, Secretary General of the Responsible Tourism Institute, stated that "It is a great pleasure to receive Destination Greater Victoria with this Letter of Commitment and to welcome them to the Biosphere Destinations Community, where more than 2,500 destinations and businesses align their efforts through the 2030 Agenda, the 169 goals and all the indicators that help them to be more sustainable and to align all good practices in actions and activities within the areas of environment, climate change, socio-cultural, governance and economy".

Destination Greater Victoria joins the list of Canadian destinations already part of the Biosphere Community: Kootenay Rockies, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Vancouver Island and Thompson Okanagan.