Travel Unity (TU) and Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) sign MOU
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and Travel Unity (TU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aiming to improve and strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the two parties to generate respective synergies and promote the application of sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Criteria in travel and tourism. The MOU refers to training on DEI to tourism stakeholders.
“We have always looked at DEI as a subset of sustainability and GSTC as the global leader in sustainability,” said Roni Weiss, Executive Director. “Before we set out to make DEI Standards for Travel & Tourism, we first checked with GSTC to make sure that they saw our efforts as complementary to the wonderful work that they’ve already been doing for so long. It is truly an honor to be able to announce that we are now officially collaborating.”
“Travel Unity was committed to and working on issues of social equity in tourism before it became a trend to think and talk about. They are truly committed to the cause and we see GSTC collaboration with Travel Unity as a logical fit. The GSTC Criteria, which provide the world’s most respected definition of sustainable tourism, have included key social issues within them from our inception in 2007, meaning that both organizations have proven a commitment to improve social equity in tourism and we’re both more able to do so through collaboration,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
About Travel Unity
Travel Unity is a U.S.-based NGO focused on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment. Travel Unity has curated two sets of DEI Standards for Travel & Tourism: for Visitor-Facing Organizations and for Special Events & Sports.
Travel Unity has three levels of verification: entry-level (TUIC), leadership-level (CDTP), and organizational (CBTU). The Travel Unity Alliance consists of organizations and individuals committed to DEI in travel, from destinations to associations to NGOs to college programs to media outlets.
For more about Travel Unity, visit travelunity.org or this Overview document.
About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
