For Governments & Destinations
Adopt the GSTC Destination Criteria
Adopt the GSTC Destination CriteriaPublic sector tourism policy-makers and destination managers throughout the world turn to the GSTC Destination Criteria for guidance in developing policy, raising awareness and conducting training, and for use as a framework for national or localized sustainability standards. GSTC urges policy-makers and destination managers to pledge to adhere to the GSTC Destination Criteria.
The Criteria were developed based on core concepts of sustainable tourism developed in 2005 by UNWTO and further developed by a highly inclusive, global input and development process.
Proclaim your commitment as a nation, province, municipality, or destination to truly sustainable policies and practices.
For Destination Managers:
Roadmap to Sustainable Destinations
Managing destinations sustain-ably requires a process of continuous improvement. The GSTC Criteria provides the framework and GSTC’s network of expert partners and resources can be applied to simplify the process of making destination policies and management practices more sustainable.
GSTC believes that sustainability is a journey. We offer this roadmap in that journey toward greater sustainability.
For Tourism Policy-Makers
Ensure that your national, provincial, or municipal tourism policies include all elements of sustainable tourism by learning and applying the GSTC Criteria and framework. Develop plans for policy-makers and destination managers to increase awareness of the issues, effectiveness, and confidence in their strategic direction for sustainable tourism.
Become Certified
Being a Certified Destination means that your destination complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. As public concern grows about the harmful effects and the positive impacts of travel and tourism, Certification provides you a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues.
For All Tourism Stakeholders: Sustainable Destinations Training
The GSTC offers Sustainable Destination Management Training by GSTC authorized trainers. GSTC Training sessions can be customized for destination managers (usually 2-3 days).
The GSTC Trainers are also approved assessors of destination sustainability and can integrate a training program with a destination assessment. The GSTC can tailor a program to the destinations needs and will advise a fee accordingly.
Examples of destinations that apply the GSTC Criteria
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Awards Hotels through the National Sustainable Tourism Certification (NSTC)
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) initiated the National Sustainable Tourism Certification (NSTC) as the first step towards making Sri Lanka's tourism industry sustainable with [...]
Sustainable Sedona Tourism
Jennifer Wesselhoff, President and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, speaks about Sedona, Arizona's new sustainable tourism plan following their 2016 GSTC Destination Assessment. [...]
On the Road to Sustainable Tourism in Västerbotten, Sweden
GSTC Member "Region Västerbotten" in Northern Sweden, has identified GSTC and its Criteria as a means to help create sustainable tourism in businesses and [...]
Sustainability Heroes in Västerbotten
Region Västerbotten in Northern Sweden has completed a three-year project of introducing sustainable thinking and acting among industry and public stakeholders with the GSTC [...]
Travel with Care in Thailand
Travel with Care in Thailand Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat acknowledged that sustainable tourism looks beyond economic benefits: "Thailand, which witnessed 38 [...]
The Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Tourism Joins GSTC
H.E. Mr. Tserenbat Namsrai, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, and Mr. Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC As the central government body [...]
GSTC Member St. Kitts’ Sustainable Destination Council (SDC) Wins WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Stewardship Award 2019
GSTC Member St. Kitts’ Sustainable Destination Council (SDC) Wins WTTC 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in the Destination Stewardship category Once Again, GSTC Member [...]
“Quality Through Creativity” Led the 2019 GSTC Asia-Pacific Sustainable Tourism Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand
"Quality through Creativity" Led the 2019 GSTC Asia-Pacific Sustainable Tourism Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand The 2019 GSTC Asia-Pacific Sustainable Tourism Conference "Quality through [...]
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Joins GSTC
December 2018 - Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a national member. Tourism Sri Lanka is [...]
Tourism Vancouver Joins GSTC
December 2018 - Tourism Vancouver has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a municipal destination member. Tourism Vancouver is a destination marketing [...]
Sustainable Tourism Professionals Gathered at the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana
Sustainable Tourism Professionals Gathered at the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana The Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana, which [...]
Thailand Minister of Tourism & Sports: “it is more crucial to focus on the GSTC index for further development”
Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Thailand Minister of Tourism & Sport, and Mr. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO In a recent article in The Nation, Mr. Weerasak [...]
St. Kitts’ Sustainable Destination Council (SDC) Joins GSTC
St. Kitts' Sustainable Destination Council (SDC), has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a destination member. The Sustainable Destination Council (SDC) serves as [...]
Criteria for Thailand’s Community-Based Tourism Development
The Criteria for Thailand’s Community-Based Tourism Development (CBT Thailand) has been used as an important tool for continuous planning, operating and evaluating outcome of community-based [...]