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 criteria and process in a small setting. Check out the full schedule of workshops and training courses.
All workshops and training courses are free for GSTC members – you can register for them here. Non-members are also welcome to attend for a small attendance fee – please register here.
Note: If you are interested in becoming a GSTC member to take full advantage of the workshops and training courses, you can find out more information on GSTC membership.
Location: United Nations Foundation, 1615 M. Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
GSTC Destination Training Course: the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations
A tourism destination is a geographic area attractive to tourists that can be marketed as a unit, including its attractions, businesses, and services. Sustainable destinations have better market differentiation and positioning: Consumers and travel businesses increasingly prefer more sustainable destinations.
This workshop will help destination managers and tourism enterprises learn how the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations, currently under development, can guide destinations toward greater socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental sustainability and achieve market recognition for their efforts.
Who should attend? Destination management organizations (DMOs); local, regional and national governments; tourism enterprises
Date: Friday, 28 September 2012
Place: United Nations Foundation
Moderator: Seleni Matus, destination management expert and Amos Bien, Technical Director GSTC
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
Price: US $175
Register for this training course here.
Sustainable Tourism Certification Training Course: The GSTC Criteria and Process
In conjunction with the GSTC annual meeting, the GSTC offers a training course covering the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and the GSTC Process for Recognition of sustainable tourism standards, GSTC Approval of certification processes, and the accreditation of certification bodies.
Who should attend? Sustainable tourism standards developers and certifiers, advanced sustainable tourism students and academics, conformity assessment bodies
Date: Saturday, 29 September 2012
Place: United Nations Foundationuration: Saturday 8:30 to 15:30
Price: US $300
Instructors: Cathy Parsons, Chair of the GSTC Accreditation Panel and Amos Bien, GSTC Technical Director
Module 1: Understanding how GSTC Recognizes standards that are aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Criteria). This module complements Thursday’s workshop number 4 (“Aligning with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria: Adopting and adapting the Criteria”), in greater detail. Examples of how criteria can be evaluated relative to national legal requirements, as well as other issues will be discussed in break-out sessions.
Module 2: Understanding the GSTC Approval process and ISO 17065 and third-party accreditation endorsed by the GSTC. The second module provides participants with information on the GSTC Approval criteria, and on ISO 17065. Key clauses will be explained, and examples of what is required for GSTC Approval and accreditation will be provided. Licensing agreements and the use of the GSTC logo will be explained. Participants should bring their own copies of ISO 17065.
Register for this training course here.
