The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Setouchi Tourism Authority for their Setouchi DMO members and stakeholders, held from September 18th to 20th at Hiroshima City Peace Memorial Park, concluded successfully. A total of 25 participants attended the training in Hiroshima, Japan. GSTC Trainer Mami Futagami, Dr. Professor Emeritus at Meijo University, led the course.
“It was an invaluable opportunity to engage with the dedicated professionals from the municipalities around the Seto Inland Sea. They were keen on transforming their destinations into more sustainable ones by complying with the Japan Sustainable Tourism Standard for Destinations (JSTS-D), a GSTC-recognized standard. I hope what they learned in training will help them better equip themselves with essential knowledge and skills to apply for the national scheme of JSTS-D to be verified by the governmental bureau of Japan Travel Agency,” said GSTC Trainer, Dr. Mami Futagami.
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course equipped participants with essential knowledge and skills for advocating sustainable tourism practices; allowing attendees to explore the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainability in tourism and travel.
The class also visited the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima, where the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023 was held, to learn about its sustainability policy and practices. The hotel is the first in Hiroshima Prefecture to receive a 3-level rating award according to the GSTC-recognized “Sakura Quality An ESG Practice Standard.”
The site visit ended at the Peace Memorial Park, where local guides gave the participants a detailed explanation of the atomic bomb-related facilities and remains, including the Atomic Bomb Dome. It became a special occasion for the participants to visit this historical place to consider the issue of tourism and peace, which was the theme of 2024 World Tourism Day.
Upon successful course completion, participants receive a certificate of completion and become eligible to take an optional official exam to obtain the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism.
If you are interested in contributing to the industry’s sustainable transformation, consider checking out GSTC’s upcoming courses here.
