What does it take to be recognized as an eco-friendly property? [...] the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the body that manages the global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, created The GSTC Industry Criteria and Suggested Indicators for Hotels in an effort to “come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism.” The idea is to [...]
Push to Certify Sustainable Destinations The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has teamed up with the state-run Designated Areas Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) and Mae Fah Luang University to develop experts in sustainable destination assessment. The collaboration marks a significant step for the global body in ASEAN, where Indonesia and Thailand are the first [...]
“Closing beaches that have been overused wouldn’t need to happen today if yesterday there had been proper planning and execution of sustainable policies, plus enforcement of existing laws relating to waste management,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO. “The good news is that there is positive movement. The bad news is that much needs to [...]
"In order for a destination to be certified as sustainable, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council outlines a list of criteria. It ranges from supporting local businesses, to conserving natural resources, and encouraging visitors to participate in the community." Separately, places like Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park in Montana are following a similar [...]
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 million tourist arrivals last year and tourism revenue approaching 20% of GDP, has provided us with a more challenging job." The tasks, he said, are to ensure fair distribution of [...]
GSTC Chair, Luigi Cabrini, comments on tourism in Brazil in two articles published on G1 (Rede Globo): Carros ameaçam dunas em Jericoacoara; veja problemas do turismo em 4 parques nacionais (30 March 2019) 'Efeito manada' nas redes sociais e 'economia disruptiva' podem estimular turismo predatório (1 April 2019) by Patrícia Figueiredo
Trade associations as corporate social responsibility actors: an institutional theory analysis of animal welfare in tourism Abstract In this article we argue that most travel trade associations ignore their responsibility towards sustainable development broadly and animal welfare in particular. We analyse the development and implementation of animal welfare standards across 62 national and international [...]
The Sustainable Travelogue help to understand what sustainable tourism is, and why it matters. Join world traveler and tourism professional Kathy Eow as she talks with industry leaders and unsung trailblazers from around the world about their work helping us travel better, forever. Season one kicks off with conversations from The Global Sustainable Tourism [...]
According to the 'Sun, Sand, and Ceilings: Women in Tourism and Hospitality Boardrooms - 2018 Report' by Equality in Tourism International, the overall representations of women on travel and tourism companies/organizations boards has increased from 15% in 2013 to 23%. However, the representation of women on the GSTC Board of Directors is 50%. "Men are seen [...]
The "Hotel Yearbook 2020 – Sustainable Hospitality" has been released and is available online for free. Along the same lines as previous editions of the Hotel Yearbook, the 2020 Sustainable Hospitality edition gathers the thoughts and research from a wide-ranging group of senior executives, analysts, consultants and opinion leaders from all over the world [...]
"The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) [accredits] certification programs for hotels and tour operators [...]. Travelers can visit their site to see lists of these programs, which include The Rainforest Alliance and Earth Check, and hotels that are [certified] will typically show a certification logo on their own websites and marketing materials." Read the full article: How to Be a Green Traveler by By [...]
"To find a destination that’s officially certified as taking sustainability issues seriously, visit the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) website." Read the full article: How to be an eco-traveller (and still have it all) by By Suzanne King on Skyscanner (February 4, 2019) Confused about the terms "certification", "recognition", "accreditation"? Watch this short video.
TTG Asia Editor's Pick: Where is sustainability in travel & tourism headed? - by Randy Durband, GSTC CEO What is sustainable tourism? How sustainable is travel and tourism? I’m asked these questions constantly in my leadership role at Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). To the first, our view at GSTC is that “sustainability is a [...]
"With tourism arrivals tripling over the past two decades, the region has reached a tipping point in terms of its ability to prevent popular destinations from being ruined But wherever tourism is developed, it is critical to preserve both natural resources and local culture, says Mr Randy Durband, GSTC CEO." Read the full article: Loved [...]
"Look for seals of approval from Global Sustainable Tourism Council, The Long Run, and Rainforest Alliance; all of these groups factor energy and water use, as well as sustainability and improving the livelihoods of local people. " Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, emphasizes the importance of choosing accredited accommodations and operators. “Certification equals [...]
"Today, tourism is second only to hydropower in terms of revenue. Happily, the demand for guides and drivers creates employment and provides income opportunities via the sale of handicrafts, etc. Moreover, US$65 of the US$250 fee goes to the government who in reinvest it into free education and healthcare for citizens. But some are [...]
Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Thailand Minister of Tourism & Sport, and Mr. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO In a recent article in The Nation, Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Thailand Minister of Tourism & Sports, said: “We seem to agree that the head counts of foreign tourists or their expenditure are not the top priority. So, targets like 36 [...]
In their article "Why Responsible Travel Matters (and Greenwashing Sucks)", Green Global Traveler share their “Top 10 Responsible Travel Organizations” - which includes the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
"Hotel sustainability certification is driving savings and increasing customer satisfaction levels, according to Tui research. But it is a challenge 'to get the message to customers' and awareness is hampered by the inaction of leading online travel agents (OTAs) that fail to identify certified hotels." "Certified hotels also recorded higher customer-satisfaction scores. The hotels [...]
"Planning a responsible trip, however, requires a lot of research – and it remains especially difficult to find information on responsible tourism in remote destinations and developing countries. So why not recruit an operator to do the legwork?" "Sustainable tourism certification is also increasing. For the past two years, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) [...]