The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) developed a short course on Sustainable Tourism for the project of Sustainable Community Tourism in the North Region of the Dominican Republic carried out by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), the Instituto Formación Técnico Profesional (INFOTEP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The classes were held virtually between January 31and February 11, 2022, where the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Criteria were reviewed, examples of practical application were addressed, and analysis and application workshops were held.
The course had the enthusiastic participation of 40 students from MITUR and INFOTEP officials, and other stakeholders that play a key role in the development of regional tourism. The closure of the Sustainable Community Tourism in the Dominican Republic Project also took place during this event.
Live session, Friday, February 11, 2022
What do other industry professionals think about the course?
“ This course offered us the possibility of interacting with multiple actors in the value chain of the tourism sector, with whom, based on the interaction with tutors and guests, we discussed various success stories in the sustainable management of tourism. Another key takeaway was to envision the challenges that we still face as a destination, and knowing that we do not need to reach that far to reach sustainability within our destination; it is all a learning experience of our potential, the integration of actors and ultimately the sectors’ managers resolutions.”
Milka Hernández, General Manager SARMA Group, Srl. Consulting company in tourism marketing and strategic communication
“Excellent course to learn and share the knowledge to appreciate the natural resources and its beauty, besides learning about the cultures where these resources are found, and where local communities can benefit from those who enjoy and appreciate them, achieving this way the true sustainability”
Rafael Troncoso, former Treasurer, Dominican Association of Travel and Tourism Operators North Zone
“It was all very emotive, the knowledge of each speaker, every GSTC Guide, the website had very good videos of places and case studies that didn’t ever cross our mind being able to see them; the training’s promotion is also very good – I hope they can keep growing and make their way in this big world, we truly need more examples like this, that contribute to improve the planet with a very good solution, and I hope as well to see their progress. Many thanks for the opportunity”
Yoel Aquino Tolentino, Evaluation Technician of the department of ecotourism and public use of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
GSTC Trainers and Course Leaders
Jorge Moller, Regenera NGO Director (Chile)
Jorge Moller is an expert consultant in sustainable tourism with almost 40 years of leadership and experience in Chile and Latin America. After graduating in ranching, he founded Eco Travel in 1985, a company dedicated to ecological and cultural tourism in southern Chile that provided local experiences creating links between local actors and visitors. He was a founding member of the Adventure Tourism Self-Regulation Council (CATA) and has collaborated in the development of sustainable tourism standards for Chile. Today he active collaborates as a founding member of the Latin American & Caribbean Ecotourism Network (LACEN), a network focused on the development and promotion of ecotourism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Leonardo Latorre Melín, Regenera NGO Executive Director (Chile)
Leonardo Latorre Melín is an expert consultant in tourism sustainability with experience in territorial planning, tourism experiences design, community strengthening and conservation. By profession, he is a Tourism-Cultural Administrator at the University of Valparaíso and a Leave No Trace (NOLS) master with a master’s degree in Tourism Management and Innovation (UACH) and diplomas in Indigenous Public Policies (UAP) and Environmental Management (UCH). He is a founding member of the Network of Municipal Tourism Managers of the Chiloé Archipelago, an entity of municipal work and collaboration and a teacher for the Ecotourism school at the DUOC professional institute (Chile).
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