At ITB travel trade show in Berlin, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with The Code and ECPAT International to work together to expand standards for the protection of children and to take other measures to end this crime. “Sustainable tourism is on the rise, consumer demand is growing for [...]
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 [...]
From Words to Actions From 14-15 February 2019, the GSTC, in partnership with NCE (Norwegian Centres of Expertise) Tourism Fjord Norway offered a training class for tourism industry stakeholders from the Fjord Norway region. The training class, led by Ayako Ezaki (GSTC Training Director) and Nicola Koschel (GSTC Trainer, Sustainable Tourism Consultant), covered sustainability [...]
The 13th Meeting of the COMCEC Tourism Working Group was held on February 13th, 2019 in Ankara, Turkey, with the theme of “Sustainable Destination Management Strategies in the OIC Member Countries”. The meeting included a presentation by Dr. Ioannis Pappas, GSTC Director Mediterranean Region, on the GSTC's Role and Mission for Sustainable Destinations. The [...]
"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 Justin [...]
"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.
December 2018 - Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a national member. Tourism Sri Lanka is a ‘Story of Untapped Potential’. Just been voted as the no. 1 destination in the world by Lonely Planet, the island is seeing a rapid demand growth from visitors and [...]
Sustainable Tourism Training, Stockholm, Sweden From January 18-20, 2019, a 3-day training class of the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) was offered in Stockholm, Sweden. The training was attended by 18 participants from the ecotourism program at Österlens Folkhögskola, an adult education institution in Tomelilla, Sweden. The training was led by GSTC Trainer [...]
December 2018 - Tourism Vancouver has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a municipal destination member. Tourism Vancouver is a destination marketing organization and business association representing approximately 1,000 members in tourism and related industries/activities. “We are very pleased to welcome the Tourism Vancouver to GSTC,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO. “We [...]
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 [...]
Sustainable Tourism Professionals Gathered at the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana The Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana, which was organized by Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC), brought together 150 delegates from 26 countries, as well as hundreds of viewers joining the live [...]
GSTC Member, GreenOtels announce the "The GreenOtels Award". The Awards are envisioned to solely give recognition to India's most sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible hotels. The Awards were given to Hotels & Resorts in four categories - Extra Large Hotel Category (250 rooms and above), Large category (120 rooms up to 250), Medium category [...]
The GSTC Destination Criteria revision has begun. According to the GSTC-D Revision Term of Reference, the revision schedule is as follow: Start December 2018: Announcement through publication of these Terms of Reference Early December 2018 – early March 2019: First round consultation Early March 2019 – end May 2019: Resolution/publish response to comments Start June 2019 [...]
The GSTC Destination Criteria revision underway - Join the public consultation The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) invites you to have input into the revision of the GSTC Criteria for Destinations (GSTC Destination Criteria). The GSTC Criteria serve as the global baseline standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. They are the result of [...]
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) has released a new publication titled "Tourism and Visitor Management in Protected Areas", guidelines to help protected area authorities establish sustainable tourism and visitation. Many protected areas are managed for tourism and visitation as one component of achieving their purpose, involving a wide range of stakeholders, including [...]
On November 15-17, 2018, the "International Summit: Cultural Sustainable Destinations without Borders" was organized by the GSTC Member Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) and Historical Villages of Portugal. The summit aimed at discussing, reflecting on and raising awareness of a common policy directed to alternative destinations. "The absence of a concrete definition for an alternative [...]
On November 13 & 14, 2018, the TOTA Annual General Meeting & Tourism Summit took place in Osoyoos, BC, Canada, with the theme “Drive for Sustainability." GSTC CEO, Randy Durband, keynoted the summit, along with Honorable Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture British Columbia; Glenn Mandziuk, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association; Marsha Walden, Destination British Columbia; and Angela Nagy, Greenstep Solutions Inc.
GSTC Member Viajar Verde Wins the WTM International Travel & Tourism Awards 2018: Best Digital Influencer in the Industry WTM has announced the 2018 International Travel & Tourism Awards winners at the WTM awards ceremony, on Tuesday 6 November 2018, at London’s Tobacco Dock. The 500+ travel professionals who attended cheered their success and [...]
As part of Davao Region's pursuit to a more sustainable and inclusive growth tourism and in order to fully implement the UNWTO global sustainability measures, a 3-day Sustainable Tourism Standards Training for Destinations was conducted on 5-7 November 2018, at Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao City. The training was facilitated by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council [...]
The GSTC has partnered with the MarkPlus Center for Tourism & Hospitality to deliver a 3-day training class of the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP), from 29-31 October 2018, in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia (co-hosted by Griya Santrian Hotel). Led by GSTC Trainer and Asia Pacific Program Director Dr. Mihee Kang, the training class [...]
