Latest GSTC News and Updates

26 04, 2013

Global Sustainable Tourism Council Signs Landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Pacific Asia Travel Association

Claudia Bustinza2013-04-26T19:02:04+08:00April 26th, 2013|

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 26, 2013) – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council(GSTC) is pleased to announce a partnership as undersigned in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pacific Asia Travel Association(PATA), a not-for-profit trade membership association headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. PATA Chief Executive Officer Martin Craigs and GSTC Board Member Guy Chester signed the MoU on [...]

18 04, 2013

Living History – Celebrating the International Day of Monuments and Sites

GSTC Admin2021-12-15T00:16:23+08:00April 18th, 2013|

By Talia Salem When studying abroad in Paris, I always marveled at the immaculate historical buildings that surrounded me at every turn. Each building is more beautiful than the other, every meticulous detail representing some important part of France’s history. At first glance, we all might think that buildings like [...]

16 04, 2013

GSTC hosts Technical Workshop in Hannover

GSTC Admin2017-07-29T10:51:33+08:00April 16th, 2013|

On March 11-12 in Hannover Germany, Amos Bien held a GSTC technical workshop about GSTC criteria and the GSTC recognition, approval and accreditation processes. It was attended by representatives from a number of European certification standards interested in learning more about GSTC, and it served to facilitate lively and fruitful discussion between these standards and [...]

11 04, 2013

Interview with National Geographic Traveler’s Jonathan Tourtellot

GSTC Admin2021-09-28T12:58:57+08:00April 11th, 2013|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is only as strong as its stakeholders and members. An early participant in the GSTC, Jonathan Tourtellot has worked with the GSTC on sustainable destinations, serves on the Destinations Working Group and has worked on the criteria what makes a destination sustainable, which include not [...]

8 04, 2013

TourCert Achieves ‘Recognized’ Global Sustainable Tourism Council Status for its Tour Operator Standard

Claudia Bustinza2021-06-24T07:23:56+08:00April 8th, 2013|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced TourCert Standard for Tour Operators has achieved ‘recognized’ certification status. The awarded status benchmarks its commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. “We commend TourCert, a non-profit organization for tourism certification, on its commitment to providing tourists [...]

26 03, 2013

Chile and Peru Pilot New Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations

Claudia Bustinza2013-03-26T19:15:39+08:00March 26th, 2013|

South America Takes Center Stage, Other Destinations to be Announced Soon WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2013) – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has selected the Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu corridor in Peru, and the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, and Frutillar in the Lakes Region of Chile for the second round of its pilot [...]

4 03, 2013

GSTC Appoints new CEO, Opens Madrid Office at UNWTO

Claudia Bustinza2013-03-04T21:54:06+08:00March 4th, 2013|

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2013) – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mauro Marrocu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Beginning today, Marrocu will lead the organization through its next phase of growth and extended global partnerships, which includes its official relocation within the offices of the World [...]

1 03, 2013

The GSTC Workshop for European Certification Programs

GSTC Admin2013-03-01T17:30:33+08:00March 1st, 2013|

ON BEHALF OF THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COUNCIL AND TUI YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE GSTC WORKSHOP FOR EUROPEAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is global initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism efforts around the world. The GSTC Criteria are designed to be the minimum that a tourism business, destination, or [...]

1 03, 2013

Announcement from ICOMOS President

Claudia Bustinza2021-01-09T14:22:24+08:00March 1st, 2013|

Sue Millar, President ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism is delighted to be associated with the work of GSTC as an Institutional Member. ICOMOS – the International Council on Monuments and Sites – works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage [...]

14 02, 2013

Sustainable Tourism and the Visitor Experience

GSTC Admin2021-12-15T00:31:27+08:00February 14th, 2013|

By: Talia Salem As an organization that is focused on certifying sustainable standards in the travel industry, the topic of sustainable tourism is very near and dear to our hearts. Global Sustainable Tourism Council hopes that one day sustainable tourism will no longer be ideal, but rather be the normal mode of operating. Each [...]

9 02, 2013

Global Sustainable Tourism Council Announces Second Group of Early Adopters To Pilot New Destination Criteria

Claudia Bustinza2020-09-05T10:35:36+08:00February 9th, 2013|

UPDATE – The application period is now closed. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) will select up to 10 destinations to pilot test the second phase of its new Destination Criteria, and encourages applications before the February 15, 2013 deadline. Overseen by GSTC’s Destination Working Group and managed by NGO partner Sustainable Travel [...]

4 02, 2013

Travelife Achieves ‘Recognized’ Global Sustainable Tourism Council Status for its Tour Operator and Travel Agents Standard

Claudia Bustinza2020-01-29T11:44:26+08:00February 4th, 2013|

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Travelife Standard for Tour Operators and Travel Agents has achieved ‘recognized’ certification status. This is the first standard for tour operators and travel agents to receive certification from the GSTC. The awarded status benchmarks its commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and [...]

2 01, 2013

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) Achieves ‘Recognized’ Global Sustainable Tourism Council Status

Claudia Bustinza2022-01-09T08:33:56+08:00January 2nd, 2013|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Standard of Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) in South Africa, has attained the organization’s ‘recognized’ status. The awarded status benchmarks its public commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. FTT has committed to using the GSTC Criteria – the first [...]

19 12, 2012

Japan Ecolodge Association Achieves ‘Recognized’ Global Sustainable Tourism Council Status for Hotel and Tour Operators

Claudia Bustinza2020-01-29T11:46:32+08:00December 19th, 2012|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that Japan Ecolodge Association (ECOLA) has attained the organization’s ‘recognized’ certification status for its Japan Environmentally Sustainable Accommodations International Standard (ESAIS). The awarded status benchmarks its public commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. ECOLA has committed to using the GSTC Criteria [...]

19 12, 2012

Travelife Sustainability System Achieves ‘Recognized’ Global Sustainable Tourism Council Status for its Hotels and Accommodations Standard

Claudia Bustinza2020-01-29T11:46:32+08:00December 19th, 2012|

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recently announced that the Travelife Sustainability System for Hotels and Accommodations has achieved ‘recognized’ certification status. The awarded status benchmarks its commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. Travelife has committed to using the GSTC Criteria – the first and only global framework for [...]

7 12, 2012

New Sustainability Critera for Destinations

Claudia Bustinza2021-12-15T00:28:39+08:00December 7th, 2012|

Update – The deadline for applications has been extended to March 15, 2013. New Sustainability Criteria for Destinations: Public Consultation Phase 2 The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Criteria for Destinations are designed to direct destination managers, communities, and businesses toward necessary steps to sustain their natural and cultural assets, while [...]

30 09, 2012

GSTC Third Annual Meeting (2012)

rariel2021-10-02T05:27:13+08:00September 30th, 2012|

GSTC Third Annual Meeting Open Forum: Morning Overview From left: Gwen Migita, Charles Arden-Clarke, Leilani Latimer, Erika Harms, Kelly Bricker, Shannon Stowell, Jane Ashton, Mila Dahle The third annual Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) meeting was held in Washington D.C. from September 26-29th, 2012. The GSTC has tripled its membership in the [...]

19 09, 2012

GSTC Training Courses: 28-29 September, 2012

GSTC Admin2017-06-10T17:30:20+08:00September 19th, 2012|

As part of GSTC’s Annual Meeting, we are hosting training courses for our members and guests to share best practices, tools and latest trends in the realm of sustainable tourism on September 28-29. We’re bringing together experts in the field so that you’ll have an opportunity to learn from them about destination criteria and the GSTC [...]

19 09, 2012

GSTC Hands-On Workshops: September 27, 2012

GSTC Admin2017-06-10T17:30:20+08:00September 19th, 2012|

As part of GSTC’s Annual Meeting, we are hosting a series of hands-on workshops for sustainable tourism practitioners and destinations on the morning of September 27, 2012. We’re bringing together experts in the field so that you’ll have an opportunity to learn practical tips on how to best manage, measure and market your sustainability in [...]

19 09, 2012

GSTC’s Open Forum: September 26, 2012

GSTC Admin2017-06-10T17:30:20+08:00September 19th, 2012|

We’re excited for GSTC’s Annual Meeting and Open Forum, coming up soon on September 26-29, 2012 in Washington, DC! Not only will you have an opportunity to meet experts, learn first hand about the destination sustainability criteria, and take away practical tips to better measure and market your sustainability, but you’ll be able to do [...]