Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) Joins GSTC

The Slovenian Tourist Board has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a destination member.

The Slovenian Tourist Board (STB or STO in Slovenian) is a national tourist board that plans and carries out the marketing of Slovenia’s comprehensive tourist products and services and ensures the sustainable development of Slovenian tourism. The core of all STB activities includes a sustained commitment, on which the placement of Slovenia as a green, active and healthy destination for five-star experiences is based.

Nowadays Slovenia is an example of good practices in the field of development and implementation of sustainable tourism on the global level. The Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (GSST) which is the central national certification tool, is of particular importance and it plays a special role in this. GSST is a tool developed at the national level and a certification programme that carries out the following tasks under the SLOVENIA GREEN umbrella brand: brings together all efforts directed towards the sustainable development of tourism in Slovenia; offers tools to destinations and service providers that enable them to evaluate and improve their sustainability endeavours; and promotes these green endeavours through the Slovenia Green brand.

Courtesy of www.slovenia.info

GSST is based on the GSTC Destination Criteria and the GSTC-Recognized Green Destinations Standard. To obtain the Slovenia Green Destination label (Bronze/Silver/Gold), the destinations must meet the Green Destinations Standard criteria, while providers first obtain/present one of the internationally recognised labels that are also verified by Slovenia Green in order to obtain Slovenia Green Accommodation/Park/Travel agency/Attraction/Beach label. While the GSST is managed by STB, the organization GoodPlace conducts the assessments using the Green Destinations Standard.

“STO has distinguished themselves internationally with their approach to managing and inspiring destinations within their country to act more sustainably,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC. “We look forward to the learning and sharing between their leadership team and our membership.”

“At the Slovenian Tourist Board, we have always acknowledged the importance of sustainability in the development of tourism – it reflects in the brand of Slovenia as a green boutique global destination for high-end visitors seeking diverse and active experiences, peace, and personal benefits. We have been encouraging Slovenian destinations and tourism service providers to join in these efforts by creating the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism in 2014, a unique tool which gives them the possibility to evaluate and improve their level of sustainability and has become internationally recognised as one of the best practices to promote responsible development of tourism. We are proud our actions have contributed to the European Travel Commission taking the first steps towards developing a sustainability scheme on a European level by publishing the tender for the Handbook European Sustainability Scheme,” says Maja Pak, Director General of the Slovenian Tourist Board.

“Thanks to the Green Scheme, Slovenian destinations are already well familiar with the GSTC Criteria and vision and we are hoping to gain even more insight and develop meaningful partnerships with other GSTC members that would help us on our way to developing tourism that would benefit locals as well as visitors – for Slovenia, this is important on a national level since sustainable development was identified as one of the priorities in the Strategy for Sustainable Growth of Slovenian Tourism 2017-2021. We also believe that our decade-long commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism will help us regain the trust of travellers after the Covid-19 pandemic,” adds Pak.

GSTC encourages destinations pursuing sustainability practices in development and management of tourism, to join as GSTC members and apply the GSTC Destination Criteria, which eventually can lead to being certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.