The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) launched the new GSTC Attraction Criteria in November 2024. GSTC designed the Early Adopter Program to facilitate the practical implementation of the GSTC Attraction Criteria, supporting their development and effective application in the industry.
The GSTC Attraction Early Adopter’s Program will begin this January 2025. Applications are now open, please see below for more information. For the following two years, key players involved will collaborate closely and network, sharing their vision and implementation plans to enhance sustainability in the Attraction industry.
Throughout the program, several activities are planned to advance sustainable practices within the attraction sector:
- Adopting the GSTC Attraction Criteria: Participants will be guided to steer Attraction businesses toward sustainable practices.
- Training for Awareness: Both public and private sector stakeholders will receive comprehensive training to raise awareness and deepen their understanding of the criteria.
- Developing a Roadmap: A detailed, step-by-step roadmap will be created to facilitate the application of the criteria within their various Attraction operations.
- Creating Pathways Toward Sustainability: Efforts will focus on identifying opportunities and addressing challenges, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the Attraction industry.
Through these efforts, the program aims to foster a collaborative environment where knowledge and best practices are shared, driving significant progress toward a more sustainable future for the Attraction industry.
If your organization wishes to participate in the Early Adopter Program for the GSTC Attraction Criteria kindly click here to learn how to apply.
The GSTC Criteria serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. The Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses and government agencies and other organization types, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.
The GSTC Criteria indicate what should be done, not how to do it or whether the goal has been achieved. This role is fulfilled by performance indicators, associated educational materials, and access to tools for implementation, all of which are an indispensable complement to the GSTC Criteria.
[Note: Participation in the GSTC Attraction Criteria Early Adopter Program does not imply or guarantee to be a mark of assurance such as certification.]
