The GSTC, in association with the Asia Ecotourism Network (AEN) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), conducted the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Class in Bangkok, Thailand from September 15-17, 2015. The three-day training class covered topics such as: global trends in sustainable tourism, the GSTC Criteria for Hotels & [...]
A GSTC Sustainability Training and Accreditation Workshop was held in Bonn, Germany from July 21-24, 2015. This workshop was hosted by the GSTC accreditation partner, Accreditation Services International (ASI). The training program specifically targeted certification bodies that may wish to seek GSTC Accreditation for their existing or proposed sustainable tourism [...]
(May 27, 2015) In a collaboration between the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) a six day GSTC Sustainability Training Course concluded this past Sunday in Kasane, Botswana. The GSTC Sustainability Training Course had 20 participants from the BTO including Auditors of the Botswana Ecotourism Certification System, and key managers [...]
March 17, 2015 – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that EarthCheck has achieved ‘GSTC Recognized’ status for their Destination Certification. The awarded status affirms EarthCheck’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services worldwide. EarthCheck is an international environmental management and professional services group, which was established in 1987. EarthCheck [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council welcomes the news that longtime member and GSTC-Recognized standard EarthCheck has renewed its partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), GSTC’s newest sponsor. This collaboration will support IHG hotels in furthering their sustainability pathway by working towards sustainable tourism certification through EarthCheck’s GSTC-Recognized standards program. Last year IHG announced that its [...]
February 25, 2015 – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that GreenEarth.travel and VisionCSR's Green Growth 2050 sustainable tourism standard has achieved 'GSTC Recognized' status. Green Growth 2050 Standard has been developed to meet the needs of tourism and travel businesses seeking today's solutions to the issues driving social, cultural [...]
February 9, 2015- The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to be hosting the 2015 Latin America Regional Meeting, taking place at the Palacio de Cristal in Quito, Ecuador on April 26, 2015. The GSTC Latin America Regional Meeting will give travel and tourism professionals a foundational list of tools, contacts, and references to [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and several members recently participated in FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, held January 28 to February 1, 2015 in Spain. During this event, GSTC Chair Luigi Cabrini and board member Jane Ashton (TUI Travel), participated at the meeting of the Advisory Group for the United Nations recently launched [...]
There is a heightened awareness of the growing global issue that food waste represents in a context of booming populations, shrinking arable land, freshwater scarcity and climate change. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), roughly 33% of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year, approximately 1.3 billion tons, [...]
January 20, 2015 – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism’s Green Star Hotel program has achieved ‘GSTC Recognized’ status. The awarded status affirms Green Star Hotel’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services. Green Star Hotel is a national [...]
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and Tour Operators’ Initiative (TOI) Join Forces Merger creates global champion in sustainable travel and tourism Madrid, Spain, 22 December 2014 – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI) announce their merger, as approved by the boards of directors of each [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announces the appointment of Mr. Guy Chester as its new Technical Director. The position includes responsibility for managing the GSTC’s vital role in setting and disseminating its global baseline standards for sustainability in the travel and tourism industry. Two sets of standards, one for destinations and the other for [...]
In November, the Mayor of Arona, a major coastal destination in Tenerife, one of the Spanish Canary Islands, signed a commitment letter with the President of the Institute for Responsible Tourism (ITR), Tomas Azcarate and the Chair of the GSTC, Luigi Cabrini. The destination engages in advancing a tourism model based on the principles [...]
From November 20th thru 21st the Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR) hosted the “GSTC Destinations Community, Barcelona Summit” in Barcelona, Spain, a Biosphere World Class Destination. The 2-day summit created a space where committed destinations could further reinforce the applications of the environmental, social, cultural, and economic principles at the core of the GSTC Criteria. Attendance [...]
From September 1-4, 2014 delegates at the 3rd Annual United Nations Conference on Small Islands and Developing States (http://www.sids2014.org) discussed the role of sustainable tourism in the future of these areas. A draft outcome document was created that calls on the support of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The future of Small Islands and [...]
Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2014) GSTC Early Adopter St. Kitts is the 2014 recipient of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (“CTO”) / TravelMole Sustainable Tourism Award for Destination Stewardship. St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Patricia Martin and Assistant Permanent Secretary Diannille Taylor-Williams accepted the award on behalf of St. [...]
* Pictured Above: GSTC Chair, Luigi Cabrini, GSTC Member Jonathan Tourtellet, and tourism authorities of the Government of Gujarat, participate in the " lighting of the lamp" a ceremony performed to open and to bless the event. Washington, D.C. (October 1, 2014) On September 27th, the state of Gujarat, India hosted the [...]
The Ibero-American Forum in Sustainable Tourism (FITS) was held in Santiago de Chile. GSTC Member, Erika Harms, spoke. The forum educated participants on sustainability implications and benefits; promoted networking opportunities; and conveyed experiences and programs that have worked successfully in other destinations. Erika Harms addressed worldwide trends in sustainable tourism [...]
Sustainable Riviera Maya (SRM) and the GSTC hosted a workshop on sustainable destinations and the application of the GSTC Criteria. This workshop explored the intersection of sustainable development and tourism, and provided practical guidance on adopting the Global Criteria in Mexico and throughout Latin America. A panel of high-level public [...]
Washington, D.C. (September 17, 2014) On September 4th, 2014 Mr. Luigi Cabrini, GSTC Chair of the Board, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony for the post graduate course on sustainable tourism at “Universidad del Caribe” in Cancun. He stressed the value of sustainable tourism and of the GSTC initiatives for an iconic destination [...]
