Early Adopters

The Destination Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu Peru, known locally as the Cusco region and globally for the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and City of Cusco World Heritage Sites, has completed the GSTC's Early Adopters pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The Cusco region is one of Peru’s most visited tourist destinations, [...]

Located in south central Chile in the Los Lagos Region, this tourism destination notably features Lake Llanquihue, the second largest lake in Chile, and the lake resort towns of Frutillar, Puerto Varas, Llanquihue, and Puerto Octay.  Tourism is economically vital to the region, where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes, [...]

South Sardinia is the first Mediterranean destination to complete the GSTC Early Adopters Program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The assessment was one of the first initiatives of Visit South Sardinia, a new DMO formed by five forward-thinking municipalities: Cagliari, Domus de Maria, Muravera, Pula, and Villasimius.  Located 250km west of the Italian [...]

Cusco Region destination adopts GSTC baseline criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 12, 2013)– The Destination Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu Peru, known locally as the Cusco region and globally for the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and City of Cusco World Heritage Sites, has completed the Global Sustainable [...]

The granite peaks and spindly pine trees gamely clinging to sheer cliffs that make up the Huangshan landscape are famous to every China citizen; it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations—seeing two-and-a-half million visitors every year—and has long been a famous source of inspiration for artists and writers (indeed, it was the [...]

The Norwegian fjords have a tourism history dating back to 1850.  The area is known for its pristine natural beauty and its stunning fjords and has won many accolades.  In 2006, two of its fjords were named among the world’s best-cared-for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2009 the region was rated the world’s most iconic [...]

Lanzarote is the easternmost of the Spanish Canary Islands, known for its biological wealth (nearly 100 species found nowhere else but this single island), quaint fishing villages, volcanic landscape, year-round sun and lovely beaches. Lanzarote’s role as an Early Adopter of the GSTC’s Destination Criteria is a natural next step for a place that’s been [...]

Lanzarote is the easternmost of the Spanish Canary Islands, known for its biological wealth (nearly 100 species found nowhere else but this single island), quaint fishing villages, volcanic landscape, year-round sun and lovely beaches. Lanzarote’s role as an Early Adopter of the GSTC’s Destination Criteria is a natural next step for a place that’s been [...]

In a veritable sea of white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, St. Kitts & Nevis stand out from the Caribbean crowd: Their big draw for travelers is a rich cultural history. People come to see the capital’s Georgian architecture; to explore Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and to ride the “sugar train,” a [...]

As far as African safaris go, there are a few destinations that rise above the rest, famous for their abundant wildlife and magical settings. The Okavango Delta is one of those destinations.  The region’s admittance to the GSTC’s Early-Adopter program is a further step on the path to sustainability, seeking to minimize impacts while maximizing [...]