What Does the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Do?

By Robert Palmer

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a non-profit organization that works towards promoting sustainable tourism practices worldwide. Their mission is to ensure that tourism does not harm the environment, cultural heritage, or local communities. In this article, we will discuss what the GSTC does and how it is helping to make tourism more sustainable.

What is the GSTC?

The GSTC was established in 2008 as an independent organization to provide a framework for sustainability in tourism. The Council is made up of members from different sectors of the tourism industry, including hotels, tour operators, governments, NGOs, and academia.

What Does the GSTC Do?

The main objective of the GSTC is to promote sustainable tourism practices worldwide. To achieve this goal, the Council has developed a set of criteria for sustainable tourism known as the GSTC Criteria. These criteria are used to evaluate destinations and tourism businesses based on their sustainability practices.

The GSTC also provides training and education programs for tourism stakeholders to help them understand and implement sustainable practices. This includes training on topics such as biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and social responsibility.

Another important role of the GSTC is certification. The Council offers a certification program for destinations and businesses that meet their sustainability criteria. This certification allows tourists to identify and choose more sustainable travel options.

GSTC Criteria

The GSTC Criteria are based on four pillars:

  • Sustainable management
  • Socioeconomic impacts
  • Cultural impacts
  • Environmental impacts

These pillars cover topics such as environmental conservation, community involvement, fair business practices, and cultural preservation.

Certification Program

Destinations or businesses that meet all of the criteria are eligible for GSTC certification. The certification process includes an evaluation of the sustainability practices of the destination or business, including on-site audits.

Once certified, destinations and businesses can use the GSTC logo to promote their sustainable practices. This certification also helps travelers to identify more sustainable travel options.

Conclusion

The GSTC is an important organization in the tourism industry, working to promote sustainable tourism practices worldwide. Through their criteria, training programs, and certification process, the GSTC is helping to create a more sustainable future for tourism.