Hållbarhetscertifiering av turistdestinationer - en genomgång av befintliga certifieringar samt fallstudie på Snæfellsneshalvön, Island

Sammanfattning: This study aims to investigate the opportunities and concerns relating to sustainability certification schemes of tourism destinations in a Nordic context. In order to accomplish this a literature review, a comparison between existing and relevant certifications scheme and a case-study on Snaefellsnes peninsula in Iceland (which is certified according to "The EarthCheck the Sustainable Communities Program”) was realized. Furthermore, the information was used to identify and analyze strengths and weaknesses related to the schemes for giving suggestions for further development of a sustainability certification scheme in the North. It was found that the existing certification schemes were few and not transparent enough to attain credibility and that the danish certification scheme Destiantion 21 and EarthCheck has a range of similiar strenght and weaknesses. Further development of a sustainability scheme needs to put heavier focus on public participation, motivation and integration to be succesful on a destination level.