Looking to travel more sustainably? Sweden, Finland and Austria are the places to go to

Euromonitor International’s latest annual study - the Sustainable Travel Index 2023 - has revealed that European destinations are some of the most sustainable in the world.

It also highlights that a high proportion of travellers are prepared to pay significantly more for their holiday if it features sustainable elements.

So which destinations are trying to reduce their environmental impact and just how much will holidaymakers pay to reduce their carbon footprint?

According to the report, the most sustainable city in the world is Melbourne, Australia.

The country’s second largest city has retained its leading position from last year, in part thanks to an ambitious goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040. The target has led to a wave of green initiatives throughout the metropolis such as greening streets, retro-fitting buildings and hosting carbon neutral events.

Spain also performed strongly, with two cities - Madrid and Seville - taking the second and third spots. Both locations have improved on last year’s positions, likely helped by the EU’s Net Zero Cities project, which aims to assist urban locations to reduce emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and reach climate neutrality by 2050.

When it comes to national performance, Europe takes centre stage, with the top 17 countries hailing from the continent. Sweden, Finland and Austria fill the top three spots, while Estonia (in fifth) is the biggest climber, moving up five places since last year.

Portugal also performed well, gaining six spots between 2017 and 2022. Average spend per domestic trip to the country has increased and tourism now owns a greater share of the country’s GDP.

A surprise entry to the list is Uruguay, which has made the top 20 for the first time, moving up