ZAGREB, 20 Nov (Hina) - Dubrovnik has been named the "European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026", the European Commission's highest accolade for small tourist destinations leading in sustainable and smart tourism, it was announced in Brussels.

Dubrovnik earned the prestigious recognition in competition with seven other European destinations: Geestland in Germany, Ibiza in Spain, Laois in Ireland, Mariagerfjord and Rebild in Denmark, Marmaris in Turkey, and Tartu in Estonia. In the category of large tourist destinations with over 100,000 residents, the award went to Tampere in Finland.

The "European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism" award succeeds the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) competition, launched by the European Commission in 2007. Previous winners include Grosseto, Italy in 2024, and Benidorm, Spain for 2025.

The award recognises European cities excelling in sustainability, digital transformation, smart mobility, energy efficiency, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

"This recognition is the result of years of work and a clear vision we began developing in 2017. That year, we launched the 'Respect the City' project when Dubrovnik faced major challenges from overtourism. Through systematic visitor management, smart solutions, digitalisation, and a strong focus on sustainability, we have transformed the way the destination is managed. The interest of EU experts and institutions during the Brussels presentation once again confirmed that Dubrovnik's model is recognised as one of the most successful in Europe," said Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković.