Gujarat Tourism Policy 2021-2025: Towards Sustainable Tourism
The Indian state of Gujarat has recently adopted the Gujarat Tourism Policy 2021-2025. The vision of the policy is to develop Gujarat in a responsible, inclusive and sustainable manner and make it the foremost destination for tourism in India.
The policy outlines strategies toward sustainability to reduce the tourism sector’s carbon footprint, shifting gears to encourage investments in green (energy efficient) buildings and low carbon transport.
Gujarat has already taken several steps towards sustainable development inclusive of adopting the «Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India» laid down by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, and undertaking concerted activities under «Swachh Bharat» and «Swachh Gujarat». Taking a step further, the Gujarat Tourism Policy 2021-2025 now encourages and incentivizes:
- Adoption of E-Vehicles by tourism service providers
- Projects obtaining Green Building or Sustainability Certification under IGBC or GRIHA or LEED or any such international accreditation/ certification
- Establishment of E-Vehicle charging stations.
- Obtaining certification through GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies
Read the full Gujarat Tourism Policy: https://www.gujarattourism.com/content/dam/gujrattourism/images/business-opportunities/tourismpolicy2021-25.pdf
Clarification
Such policies to support sustainable tourism in Gujarat, India, will increase the number of certified sustainable tour operators in Gujarat.
Sustainability certification (what some call eco-label) is a voluntary, third-party assessment, through an audit, of a tour operator for conformity to a sustainable tourism standard. GSTC does not conduct certification. Certification is conducted by relevant Certification Bodies throughout the world. GSTC accredits those that certify. Those tour operators certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body can use the GSTC logo along with the Certification Body’s mark.
Gujarat Tourism Policy 2021-2025 includes the term “GSTC accredited agencies” which refers to GSTC-Accredited Certification Bodies, as well as the term “GSTC certification” which refers to certification to the GSTC Criteria (or GSTC-Recognized Standard) by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
Learn more about how to become certified as a sustainable tour operator.
