The City of Sapporo has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Sapporo City, with a population of 1.96 million, is the economic and cultural center of Hokkaido, combining urban development with natural surroundings. The city receives visitors from both Japan and abroad, offering scenic landscapes across all four seasons.
Sapporo is internationally renowned for its winter sports scene, having hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, and is also home to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival which draws millions of visitors each year to admire its intricate snow sculptures and festive atmosphere.
Sapporo’s food culture is a notable aspect of the city, the Hokkaido cuisine includes miso ramen and fresh seafood, and it’s Sapporo Brewery produces one of Japan’s most iconic beers.
Sustainability Commitment
In 2008, the world’s first Group of Eight (G8) University Summit was held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. In this summit, Hokkaido University took an important role and twenty seven representatives of world leading universities and educational institutions gathered and adopted the “Sapporo Sustainability Declaration (SSD).” The SSD states universities’ responsibility as the driving force for developing a sustainable society.
The City of Sapporo was selected as an SDGs Future City in 2018, certified as a Fair-Trade Town in 2019, and was the first city in the country to obtain the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities and Communities Platinum certification in 2020.
Sapporo was also the first city in Asia to be approved as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Media Arts category (2013). One of the best examples of media arts using digital technology is projection mapping, which is performed at the Sapporo Snow Festival and other events.
In April 2023, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan jointly held the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture. Central themes included promoting energy transitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing biodiversity loss. One of the key commitments made was to end plastic pollution by 2040 through a comprehensive lifecycle approach. This includes reducing single-use and non-recyclable plastics, promoting sustainable production and consumption, enhancing plastic circularity, and addressing microplastic pollution.
“Sapporo City has set the vision to be a ‘Sustainable Tourism Destination Chosen by Travelers from Around the World.’ We aim to manage tourism in a way that considers the well-being of our residents, the economy, and the environment, in cooperation with the entire community. To promote sustainable tourism development, we are eager to gather information on advanced regions and sustainable initiatives and implement these ideas in our city. Therefore, we are very pleased to have the opportunity to become a member of the GSTC,” said Tomonori Aoyama, General of Tourism & MICE Promotion Department, Economic and Tourism Affairs Bureau, of the City of Sapporo.
GSTC Welcomes the City of Sapporo
“We extend a warm welcome to the City of Sapporo as a new member of GSTC and value their commitment in supporting our mission. We wish them every success on their journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, and MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. 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/
Statements expressed in this announcement are presented for informational purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation by GSTC, unless clearly stated.
