At the turn of the year, it became clear that Visit Dalarna had succeeded in achieving the internationally recognized ESCA gold certification. Within the industry code that includes the hospitality industry, Visit Dalarna is currently the only one in the world with gold certification.
– This is a big step towards our vision of becoming Northern Europe's leading destination company, says Chatarina Eriksson, CEO of Visit Dalarna.

The certification ”Cluster Management Excellence Label GOLD – Proven for Cluster Excellence” is established by the European Commission and awarded by ESCA (European Secretariat for Cluster Assessment). ESCA evaluates and qualifies organizations, regardless of industry, based on how well they function as a cluster* and the certification is available at bronze, silver and gold levels. Visit Dalarna has now been awarded the highest level of certification, which is gold.
– We have worked hard and long-term to develop and quality-assured the tourism industry in Dalarna since long before the start of Visit Dalarna, and this is proof that we are on the right track. We will in no way be sitting back now, it is important to continue working purposefully to further strengthen our work for the good of the tourism industry, says Chatarina Eriksson. 

To receive ESCA Gold, a cluster organization must meet strict criteria in areas such as leadership, strategy, resources, internationalization and collaboration with other actors. Being a cluster engine means creating the best conditions for companies to develop and do more and better business.
– Being awarded the ”Cluster Management Excellence Label GOLD – Proven for Cluster Excellence” is the culmination of an impressive development of what has become the Visit Dalarna organization and which has transformed the tourism sector in the region from a fragmented organization to a well-functioning cluster collaboration structure. Efforts that are co-financed by the public and private sectors. The quality label will further improve the cluster's visibility in Sweden and abroad and will thus be a strong asset in attracting more visitors to the region, says Helmut Kergel, Director ESCA.

According to the press release.