WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2014) – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) conducted its Early Adopter program from 2012 through early 2014. During the program, a diverse group of fourteen forward-thinking destinations worldwide pilot tested the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations. Each Early Adopter underwent a baseline destination sustainability [...]
Dr. Dirk Glaesser has joined the GSTC Board of Directors. Dr Dirk Glaesser is the Director for the Sustainable Development Programme of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Along with UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNWTO maintains a permanent seat on the GSTC Board of Directors. As of June 1st 2014, Dirk assumed that [...]
The GSTC 2014 Board Elections are now open for nominations! The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is now welcoming nominations and applications for board members, including self-nominations, now, through July 31. Board members of the GSTC will provide balanced and broad geographical representation, insight, expertise, and commitment to the highest operational authority for the organization, [...]
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 [...]
Our Native Village, an eco-resort for holistic health located outside of Bangalore, is at the forefront of sustainable hospitality in India. The 24-room resort has a fully natural swimming pool, a spa, and a 12-acre organic farm that serves the guests sustainable food. Working with the GSTC criteria, Our Native Village now generates 75% [...]
June 26, 2014 - The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the launch of the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program. The training program is designed to educate travel and tourism professionals on key factors needed to integrate sustainability into a destination, business or organization. Highlights include discussions about current best practices, [...]
Industry professionals gather in one of the most important annual conferences in Sustainable TourismBonito, Brazil (April 28, 2014) – Located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Bonito is a quiet and astonishing destination with a population of almost 20,000 inhabitants. True to its name -Bonito means beautiful in Portuguese- this simple-life village [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council welcomes its members, guests speakers, destination management, hotel and tourism representatives to its annual general meeting. The first day of the two-day conference hosted by the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference is beginning today in Bonito, Brazil. Today's agenda includes keynotes by Daniel de Granville, ecotourism expert, and author of [...]
Since the late 1990s, Samoa has held a pivotal leadership role in Sustainable Tourism practices and the Early Adopter Program provided the destination with an opportunity to benchmark its performance in the international context. The Independent State of Samoa is made up of 10 islands in the Polynesia, covering a total area of 2,831 square-kilometers. Remarkably beautiful, [...]
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 [...]
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 AdopterProgram and the second destination in the world to do so at the national level. Since the late 1990s, Samoa [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2014) - The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Durband as its new Chief Executive Officer. Durband assumes executive responsibilities effective immediately. “Randy is a charismatic and dynamic leader who brings tremendous experience in the travel industry," said GSTC Board Chair Kelly Bricker [...]
Mexican biosphere reserve Sierra Gorda adopts baseline criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism March 11, 2013 – Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Mexico is the first Central American destination to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) GSTC Early Adopters Program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations, under the scope of the [...]
Earlier in February, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in partnership with Sustainable Travel International hosted a live virtual educational presentation with over 300 registrations from around the world. The webinar was presented by Dr. Kelly Bricker, Chair of the GSTC Board, as well as Dr. Louise Twining-Ward and Jeremy Sampson from Sustainable Travel International. Some of [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February, 2014)- The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Chilean national system for distinction of sustainable tourism has achieved ‘recognized’ certification status. This commendation acknowledges its commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. “Chile has shown clear leadership and commitment [...]
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 [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31st , 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 [...]
The performance indicators presented here are designed to provide guidance in measuring compliance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators (GSTC-HTO). They are not intended to be the definitive set or all-inclusive, but to provide a solid sample set for users of the GSTC-D in developing their own indicator sets. This [...]
(Washington, D.C, December 9, 2013) Steve Noakes, Co-Chair of the GSTC Knowledge Network, Education & Training (KNET) Working Group contributed to the sustainability agenda at the inaugural UNWTO Spiritual Tourism and Sustainable Development Conference hosted with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in Ninh Binh, Vietnam from 21 – 22 November 2013. Spiritual tourism [...]
The Chilean destination of Lake Llanquihue has completed the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopters pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The destination joins the Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu corridor in Peru as the first South American destinations to participate in and complete the GSTC Early Adoptersprogram. The Early Adopters program [...]
