(October 12th, 2015) – In the beginning of September, TourCert launched the ideas competition FAIRWÄRTS. The competition focuses on ideas for sustainability and responsibility in tourism. This new competition fosters innovation in business in addition to helping advance sustainable tourism. By submitting ideas or examples of best practices, tourism enterprises [...]
(September 22nd, 2015) – The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) is a global community formed around showcasing, recognizing and sharing the stories of great conservation enterprises around the world – enterprises that are win-win-wins for people, planet and profit through the certification of products. WFEN’s effective conservation model can be [...]
(July 28, 2015) An interview with Khiri Travel’s Graham Read about their recent Travel Life certification and sustainability practices. The Southeast Asia based destination management company and GSTC member Khiri Travel , recently achieved Travel Life Certification for their Tour Operations in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Khiri group’s new certification is a major advancement for creating [...]
(July 9, 2015) A record 1.1 billion tourists traveled to international destinations in 2014, and the World Tourism Organization predicts that international travel will increase by 4% by the end of the year. The tourism industry continues to have an enormous impact on the environment and on communities in and near popular travel destinations – [...]
(June 18, 2015) Innovation Norway continues to champion sustainable tourism with their recent launch of the country’s Sustainable destination standard. Since May, four destinations in Norway have achieved the new label and one has received the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Award for Destination Stewardship. Innovation Norway has successfully [...]
(June 4, 2015) For their contributions to the successful planning and execution of the Latin American Regional Meeting in Quito, Ecuador, the GSTC would like to thank our Country and Regional Representatives: Natalia Naranjo Colombia and Ecuador; D’Arcy Dornan for Brazil and Jorge Moller for Chile and Argentina. Without their outstanding efforts and regional knowledge, [...]
Biosphere Responsible Tourism Certification, run by Instituto de Turismo Responsible (ITR) recently achieved GSTC Approved Status for their Destination Standards. Previously, ITR had been Approved for their hotel and tour operator standards. This is a landmark accomplishment as ITR is the first to achieve GSTC Approval for both Hotel & Tour Operator and Destination certification [...]
With environmental threats to the Great Barrier Reef reaching alarming concern, GSTC Recognized standard Ecotourism Australia, is guiding hotels and tour operators towards certification and striving to conserve this asset to the tourism industry in Australia. Ecotourism Australia represents close to 1,500 ecotourism products in and around Australia. Membership is offered for tourism operators and [...]
The iconic Yellow Mountains of Huangshan, China boast the only Global Destination Stewardship Award in the country and an UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Huangshan Scenic Area, China (HSAC) are longtime members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and past participants of the GSTC Early Adopters Program. Given these accomplishments, HSAC will be hosting the [...]
Based in Quito, Ecuador, CarpeDM Adventures is an adventure company committed to meeting the needs of the community, clients and business partners through innovative programs that enhance the delivery of quality adventure travel. Building the social consciousness of the world one tour at a time, CarpeDM adapted the “DM” in CarpeDM to represent “Doing More”. Since inception, CarpeDM always [...]
Randy Durband spoke at this event discussing how certification can assist in solving problems like rural poverty and climate change. Standards and certification are making strides to drive better production practices around the world and raise the sustainability bar in many sectors, but the earth’s systems remain in crisis, with [...]
The second edition of this congress addressed both energy and tourism together. This congress focused on sustainable tourism including issues such as governmental policies regarding energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and environmental impacts. Luigi Cabrini, chair of the GSTC participated in this event. […]
Paul Snyder, IHG Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and GSTC Board Member An interview with IHG's Paul Snyder about the successful Green Engage program. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is the newest sponsor of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and one of the leading hotel companies, with 4,700 hotels around the world. [...]
The GSTC Criteria serve as basic guidelines for businesses, organizations and destinations that wish to address sustainability issues in the travel and tourism industry. It is composed of a set of standards and provides assurance that the main principles of responsible tourism are being covered. In reality, the GSTC criteria represents a commitment to the [...]
The tourism industry has the potential to be a good and powerful force on our planet. When responsibly managed, it enriches lives, and preserves natural resources and cultural heritage. More frequently these days, travelers take this into account and seek authentic holiday experiences, to choose a responsible tour operator, book a hotel with a sustainability [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council CEO, Randy Durband, has been named Special Advisor to the creation of the Top 100 Sustainable Destination annual list. The initiative was created by GSTC member Albert Salman (Green Destinations) and Valere Tjolle (TravelMole, VISION for Sustainable Tourism, Totem Tourism). The Top 100 Sustainable Destinations list aims to encourage stakeholders [...]
Tourism has been a crucial economic driver on St. Croix for many years and the island has been careful to avoid over- development that might detract from its varied natural and cultural assets. As part of the island’s strategic plan to increase visitation, St Croix has been exploring ways to [...]
Mexican coastline destination adopts criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 1st, 2014) – One of Mexico’s iconic tourism destinations, the Riviera Maya in the State of Quintana Roo, has become the first destination on the Mexican Caribbean coast to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopter Program. “At the [...]
First destination in the South Pacific Region to adopt criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (March, 2014) – Samoa is the first South Pacific destination to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopter Program and the second destination in the world to do so at the national level. Since the [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January, 2014) - The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Asociación de Hoteles de Turismo de la República Argentina (AHT)’s “Greener Hotels” (Hoteles+Verdes) has achieved ‘recognized’ certification status. The awarded status benchmarks its commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. “I am delighted that [...]
