The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 is being held under the theme ‘Unity in motion - Shaping ASEAN’s Tourism Tomorrow” from the 15th to the 20th of January 2025, at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, in Johor, Malaysia. GSTC CEO, Randy Durband participated in the session titled “Charting Tourism for ASEAN: Trends Defining the [...]
Overview GSTC has developed a credible assurance program for hotels, tour operators, and destinations and has been extending it to MICE and Attractions. The growth of the GSTC Assurance Program requires qualified senior managers with deep knowledge and experience in accreditation. See the GSTC Accreditation Senior Manager Job Description for full details. Roles & [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the International MICE Summit (IMS) held in Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 15 to 17, 2024. The Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA) hosted the event. With a three-day interactive program that featured plenary sessions, panel [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is proud to announce the launch of its new training program tailored specifically for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. This milestone follows the publication of the GSTC MICE Criteria last year, marking a significant step in promoting sustainable practices across events globally. The new GSTC [...]
Portrait Milano is the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. Portrait Milano becomes the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in partnership with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), announced in August its plans to expand the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable tourism, by developing a new set specifically for tourism-related food service providers. These forthcoming criteria, with an official name to be determined, [...]
2025 Eligibility for GSTC-Recognized Standards and Required Accreditation The GSTC Criteria represent the global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. Certification is a crucial aspect of implementing these standards, involving third-party assessments to ensure compliance with the standards. While the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) does not conduct certifications directly, it accredits Certification Bodies [...]
At GSTC we work with partners to measure and offset the carbon emissions associated with our conferences. The GSTC2023 Global Conference, held in Antalya, Türkiye, brought together 350 tourism professionals from 51 countries, providing a valuable platform for advancing sustainable tourism practices while adhering to our environmental responsibility. The carbon footprint refers to the [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Amakusa Sustainable Tourism Council, held from December 17th to 19th, 2024, concluded successfully. It took place at a historical site of an early educational center in Amakusa City, Kumamoto, Japan, characterized by numerous museums and World Heritage churches across the islands. A [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is thrilled to celebrate the addition of numerous new members in 2024, all of whom are committed to advancing sustainability in their respective tourism activities. This diverse group of fourteen destinations and sixteen industry stakeholders highlights a shared global commitment to responsible and sustainable travel. Find below a [...]
Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s leading travel platform and a Platinum Sponsor of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has been supporting sustainable tourism by sponsoring GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Programs since 2022. Through this collaboration, Traveloka has helped empower tourism stakeholders across the region with comprehensive education on the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for [...]
To encourage accommodation providers, including tourist hotels, regular hotels, and B&B providers, to enhance service quality, implement accessible and inclusive facilities, adopt sustainable environmental management systems, and offer smart service spaces, Taiwan Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has introduced the "Guidelines for Subsidies to Enhance the Quality of Accommodation Services". [...]
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has announced that all six of its Australian properties have gained accredited certification, after getting all their properties in Singapore also certified. These six properties are the first in the Oceania region to attain this global certification. PPHG is the wholly-owned hotel subsidiary of UOL Group Limited (UOL), one [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2024 Ulsan Ecotourism Forum, held on the 3rd of December, 2024, at the Tannibay Hotel in Ulsan, South Korea. With over 170 participants, the forum provided a dynamic platform to discuss the city’s transformation through technological innovation, cultural integration and sustainability. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, [...]
Traveloka sponsored the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training held in the Potique Hotel in Nah Trang, Vietnam, December 12-13, 2024. The two-day training was led by GSTC Trainer, Trang Nguyen who shared his expertise with practical examples and insights. Attendees had the chance to listen to esteemed guest speakers: Ms. Ha Thi Dieu Vien, Deputy [...]
On December 6, 2024, the Opera & Ballet Theatre in Tirana became a hub of dialogue and collaboration during the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania. This landmark event organized by The Ministry of Tourism and Environment in cooperation with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported project, RisiAlbania, implemented by [...]
The fourth annual Destination Stewardship Yearbook is a compilation of articles from the 2023–2024 Destination Stewardship Report (DSR), co-produced by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), and Destination Stewardship Center (DSC). In each issue, the DSR features destinations that have embraced effective and holistic management, best practices in sustainable [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2024 China Hotel and Catering Industry Brand Development Conference, where its CEO, Randy Durband, delivered a keynote speech. The event, held on November 27 in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, served as a platform for industry leaders and policymakers to discuss innovation, sustainability, and brand excellence [...]
Tricolage, in collaboration with the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, sponsored the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course for their tourism stakeholders in Tokyo, Japan. The training was held from the 3rd to the 5th of December, 2024, and was led by GSTC Trainer Kazuhiro Arai, Representative of Daisetsuzan Nature School, who shared [...]
Royal Caribbean Group’s annual ‘Seastainability Report’ communicates its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and performance. The content of the report was shaped by their 2021 materiality assessment and ESG framework and is guided by their commitment to SEA the Future. Following the release of its 2020, 2021 and 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance [...]
