Because so many organizations and destinations are coming at this from different starting points, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council – GSTC has established a baseline standard for more responsible tourism practices, offering criteria that help consumers find reputable destinations and companies. It also helps both government and private-sector organizations develop sustainable tourism requirements for destinations, and acts as an educational body providing training and best practices on a global level.
“Sustainable tourism is really just another term for good management of tourism. If brands want to sustain themselves for the long term, they need to manage for the long term,” GTSC CEO Randy Durband wrote in the industry publication Skift this past April. Among the best practices he recommended were choosing responsible suppliers, protecting their assets (which include the destinations tourists visit), and responding to resident concerns about overcrowding in parts of their cities.
Read the full article: COVID-19 put a halt to over-tourism. Can we plan a sustainable reset? by Abbie Synan on The Globe and Mail (September 25, 2020)
