GSTC for Consultants

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the leading organization establishing and managing global sustainability standards for travel and tourism. The GSTC Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses and government agencies, as well as for measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for sustainable tourism certification.

As a consultant in sustainable tourism, you play a vital role in guiding tourism businesses on their journey toward sustainability. GSTC provides a clear pathway for tourism entities to achieve GSTC-accredited Certification, ensuring alignment with global sustainability standards. By following this structured approach, you can support your clients in adopting sustainable practices and gaining credible certification.

What is GSTC Certification?

GSTC Certification is a three-year valid certification that has been regarded as the most trusted benchmark for sustainability and excellence in the travel and tourism industry worldwide. With the GSTC certification, tourism businesses can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism through a credible, impartial and rigorous assessment.

Why are we confident in saying that? The certification is an independent third party certification conducted by GSTC Accredited Certification Bodies to certify tourism businesses against the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC establishes and maintains the GSTC Criteria, the global framework for sustainable tourism. GSTC does not conduct certification; rather, it accredits Certification Bodies (CBs) that certify tourism businesses. Through a rigorous accreditation process, GSTC ensures that these Certification Bodies operate with transparency, impartiality, and competence. In short, GSTC certify the certifiers.

Note: The term “GSTC Certification” is a shorthand for “Certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited.”

How to guide tourism businesses to GSTC-Accredited Certification?

GSTC currently owns four sets of sustainable tourism Criteria:

Identify which set of GSTC Criteria is more applicable to the business. The GSTC Criteria have been translated into many languages, available to the public to download on the GSTC website. You can find Translations of the GSTC Criteria in other languages here.

Note: Currently only GSTC Industry Criteria and GSTC Destination Criteria are able to be certified. MICE and Attraction Criteria were published in 2024 and the Accreditation Manual (a guidance for Certification Bodies on how to certify) is still under development.

Begin by evaluating the tourism business’ current sustainability performance using the GSTC Criteria. This self-assessment provides insights into strengths and areas for improvement, setting the foundation for targeted enhancements.

Your sustainable expertise is crucial in guiding tourism businesses to meet sustainability standards. Offer tailored coaching to help the tourism business:

  • Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
  • Develop and implement sustainability action plans
  • Align their operations with international best practices

A well-trained team with GSTC knowledge is essential for successful sustainability implementation. Encourage the tourism business clients to participate in the GSTC training course to build staff capacity and deepen their understanding of sustainable operations.

After implementing initial improvements, conduct a second self-assessment to measure progress and refine strategies. This step helps the tourism business prepare for the certification process with confidence.

Once the tourism business is ready, guide them in selecting a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body (ACB). These certification bodies offer rigorous evaluations, ensuring the hotel’s sustainability practices meet GSTC’s globally recognized standards.

See here to find the GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies worldwide.

Join GSTC Trainings

GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Programs (STTP)

The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) teaches the breadth of sustainable travel and tourism components and offers practical insights and effective steps to help tourism businesses to improve their sustainability practices. All sessions are led by expert GSTC Trainer(s). Training courses are relevant for a wide range of tourism industry professionals including: hotel managers and staff, tour operator managers and staff, destination managers, government officials, consultants, NGOs, and academic institutions.

  • Gain in-depth knowledge of the GSTC Criteria, the global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism.
  • Make informed decisions on how to implement sustainability practices for tourism businesses or destinations.
  • Get ready for developing viable and actionable sustainable tourism policies and practices.

Training on the GSTC Criteria is available from the GSTC with frequent online classes and by special arrangement for on-site training sessions. There are various courses options in the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program. See all the upcoming classes here.

STTP is suitable for: Anyone interested in learning about sustainable tourism.

GSTC Auditor Training

GSTC Auditor Training is at the forefront of the GSTC Certification program and is one of the most important means of ensuring the credibility of the GSTC Criteria. It serves as a crucial step in maintaining the high standards of sustainable tourism practices worldwide.

GSTC Auditor Training is suitable for:

  • Individuals seeking to become GSTC Auditor*
  • Internal compliance managers of tourism businesses
  • Destination managers, government officials, consultants that are interested in certification process and conformity judgement.

*Note: There are other requirements in addition to completing this training in order to conduct audits for the GSTC Certification. For further details, please refer to the latest GSTC Accreditation Manual.

**Note: the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course is NOT a requirement to become a GSTC auditor. Auditors must meet all the requirements outlined in the GSTC Accreditation Manual, including educational background, audit experience, and other auditor training qualifications. Additionally, achieving any training certificate does not constitute or imply that the person represents GSTC or provide the status (e.g. GSTC Consultant). The Sustainable Tourism Course professional certificate does not imply a certificate to become an authorized GSTC trainer. 

Commercial use of the GSTC Criteria

The GSTC encourages broad use and application of the GSTC Criteria, which are available from this website free of charge for their non-commercial use. However, the GSTC reserves the right to assess and charge fees for the commercial use of the GSTC Criteria.

Guidance for Consultants referring to GSTC

GSTC recognizes the valuable role that consultants play in supporting businesses on their sustainability journey. However, to maintain accuracy and transparency, it is essential that consultants follow these guidelines when referencing GSTC:

1. GSTC Does Not Certify Businesses
GSTC does not conduct audits, issue certifications, or certify businesses. Certification is only granted by GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies to businesses or destinations. Consultants must not claim to offer “GSTC Certification” or guarantee certification to their clients.

2. Permitted Consultant Services
Consultants may assist businesses in understanding GSTC Criteria, preparing for certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body, and improving sustainability practices. However, they must accurately describe their role and avoid misleading statements about certification.

3. Responsible Use of GSTC Branding
Consultants must not use the GSTC logo in a way that implies endorsement, accreditation, or certification by GSTC. Any reference to GSTC must be factual and align with GSTC’s logo usage guidelines.

4. Misleading Claims Will Be Addressed
GSTC actively monitors for misrepresentation. If a consultancy is found to be making misleading claims, GSTC will request immediate corrections. Continued misrepresentation may result in public clarification and further actions to protect the integrity of GSTC’s standards.

For any questions about how to correctly reference GSTC in your consultancy services, please contact us at info@gstcouncil.org

Join GSTC as a Member

Join GSTC as a member organization to stay informed of key developments, and to learn from others in our network. Being a GSTC member means actively participating in our global community who represent a wide range of tourism stakeholders – from UN agencies to leading international tour operators, to government organizations and national tourism boards, and to local and international hospitality brands. For consultants, benefits of joining GSTC member would allow consultants to have access to a range of resources to help consultants effectively support their clients, including:

  • Webinars & Training Programs – Stay updated on sustainability trends and best practices.
  • Networking & Knowledge Sharing – Connect with other sustainability professionals to exchange insights.

Find out more with GSTC Membership team members@gstc.org

Become a GSTC Member