The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is pleased to announce that the GSTC Attraction Criteria has been published. Developed with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for attractions – such as theme parks, museums, national parks, etc. with the aim to guide businesses toward implementing sustainable practices in response to the growing focus on sustainability.
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, organizations and government agencies, 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 and are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.
The GSTC Attraction Criteria is the fourth GSTC Criteria set, in addition to the GSTC Industry Criteria (for Hotels and Tour operators), the GSTC Destination Criteria, and the GSTC MICE Criteria. All GSTC Criteria sets are publicly available for non-commercial use.
GSTC Attraction Criteria
Establishing clear guidelines to promote sustainable practices across the attractions sector was crucial. The GSTC Attraction Criteria have been meticulously crafted to meet the diverse needs of various attractions, ranging from natural wonders to cultural landmarks. The criteria serve as the minimum that all attractions should achieve to approach social, environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability. By embracing the new GSTC Attraction Criteria, attractions can elevate visitor experiences while safeguarding their environmental and cultural heritage for future generations.
The GSTC Attraction Criteria aims to serve as the global sustainability standards for Attraction businesses and provide a common understanding of sustainable practices in the Attraction industry worldwide.
«Today marks a significant step forward as we introduce the GSTC Attractions Criteria, the culmination of 14 months of collaboration and dedication. We deeply appreciate the contributions of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) who made this possible. Together, let’s embrace this opportunity to lead the attractions sector towards a more sustainable path,» says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive, Experience Development Group, STB, said: “STB is proud to have supported the development of the GSTC Attraction Criteria. This new set of global standards marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to promote sustainability within the attractions industry. By collaborating with GSTC and our industry partners, we aim to help attractions embrace sustainable practices as they deliver an engaging visitor experience.”
The GSTC Attraction Criteria will:
- Help define sustainability in a holistic manner
- Raise awareness of the breadth and nature of sustainability
- Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability
- Offer both public and private sectors a starting point by providing basic guidelines for Attraction businesses to become more sustainable, including guidance for identifying more sustainable suppliers and service providers
- Help consumers identify sustainable attractions/ businesses
- Serve as a common denominator for recognizing sustainable attractions, helping businesses in choosing sustainable suppliers and partners
- Serve as basic guidelines for education and training on sustainable attraction practices
- Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act
Development of GSTC Attraction Criteria
The GSTC Attraction Criteria have been built on decades of prior work and experience around the world and take into account the numerous guidelines and standards for sustainable tourism from every continent. During the development process, criteria were widely consulted throughout the globe, in both developed and developing countries. They reflect our goal of attaining a global consensus on sustainable tourism.
The Criteria have been developed and revised by following the GSTC Standard-setting Manual v3.0 while striving to adhere to the Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems by the ISEAL Alliance, the body recognized to provide guidance on international norms for developing sustainability standards in all sectors. More detailed information about the process development is available here and in the GSTC Attraction Criteria Development Terms of Reference (TOR) document.
GSTC Attraction Criteria development process is shown below (Figure 1):
The Attraction Criteria Development Advisory Group included the following organizations: the Association of Singapore Attractions, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the Singapore Tourism Board, The Royal Djurgården Society, and the US National Park Service.
The Attraction Criteria Development Key Stakeholders included the following organizations: Blue Lagoon Island Bahamas, the City of Dubrovnik, Mandai Wildlife Group, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The Criteria development process was a 14 month-long journey from September 2023 to November 2024. The first round of public consultation took place for two months, from 15th January to March 15th, 2024. The key findings report is available here.
After compiling and revising the second draft, a Feasibility Assessment was conducted to evaluate the suggested criteria based on a compiled draft from the GSTC Technical Team, and to assess the readability (how easy to understand the criteria are), measurability/auditability (how objective they are), and feasibility of the requirement (how likely they are to be met) of each criterion. The feasibility assessment took place from May 10th to June 10th, 2024. Organizations participating in the Feasibility Assessment can be found in the annex below. [1]*
Revisions to the GSTC Attraction Criteria draft were made after the second public consultation period, which was conducted from August 5th to September 5th, 2024. The final draft and consensus were made before the final adoption and publication.
The GSTC launched an ‘Early Adopter Program’ for the Attraction Criteria. This program will run for two years, allowing industry players to apply the Criteria in the field and form a network for knowledge and experience sharing. Information on how to apply to the Program can be found here. If you would like to get more information please contact criteria@gstc.org.
GSTC Criteria & SDGs
There is a strong relationship between the GSTC Criteria and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). By achieving the GSTC Criteria, organizations are helping to meet the UN SDGs. Economic, environmental, and societal dimensions are all addressed by the GSTC Criteria. Destinations and organizations looking to contribute to the SDGs will find that the GSTC Criteria provide effective tools to help them rise to the challenge. Further guidance on the criteria may be found in the supporting indicators and definitions set out in the publication.
Acknowledgments
Along with GSTC and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), there are key contributors to the development of the GSTC Attraction Criteria. We wish to extend our gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who participated in the development process for supporting our mission and providing their expertise and feedback.
An Attraction Criteria Development Advisory Group [2]* and a Key Stakeholder Group [3]* were formed for the GSTC Attraction Criteria development, which comprised five organizations from both the public and private sectors to whom we wish to express our appreciation for playing a pivotal role in developing the Criteria. As well as to those who participated in the public consultation and the feasibility assessment, thank you for contributing to developing the GSTC Attraction Criteria.
GSTC would also like to thank the Director of Animondial, Daniel Turner and Helen Usher, Gabriela Kuhn and her colleague at ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism), International Cultural Tourism Committee from ICOMOS, World Wide Fund, Roundtable for Human Rights, and Accessible Travel Solutions for their contribution and for sharing their professional and expert knowledge during the public consultations.
Information about the GSTC Attraction Criteria Development Terms of Reference (TOR) can be found in this document. More information about Criteria Development, Feedback & Revisions can be found here.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.
More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com | Follow us: STB LinkedIn, STB Facebook or STB Instagram
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are four sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and GSTC Attraction Criteria. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services but provides accreditation to those that do.
GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
[Note: As the owner of the GSTC Criteria, the GSTC reserves the right to assess and charge fees for the commercial use of the GSTC Criteria]
[1]* The Organizations that took part in the Feasibility Assessment include: Alliance of Marine Mammals Parks and Aquariums, Ayuntamiento de Teguise, Ayuntamiento de Tias, Biosphere Reserve del Cabildo Lanzarote, Bounce Singapore, Centros de Arte, Cultura y Turismo de Lanzarote, City of Dubrovnik, Global Humane, Iguaraya Foundation, Lanzarote Tourist Board, Liseberg, Madame Tussaud Singapore, Mandai Wildlife Group, Resorts World Sentosa, Royal Djurgården, Singapore Tourism Board, Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museum, Tayrona National Park, The Blue Lagoon Island.
[2]* The Attraction Criteria Development Advisory Group includes the following organizations: Singapore Tourism Board, Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), The Royal Djurgården Society, The US National Park Service.
[3]* Blue Lagoon Island Bahamas, the City of Dubrovnik, Mandai Wildlife Group, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
