What Makes an Eco-Resort Truly Sustainable? This article by Elana Spivack was published on Popular Science. Eco-resorts are generally committed to a carbon-zero existence and preserving their surrounding environment. The word “resort” connotes luxury, and many claim to provide luxury sustainably. These locales have been cropping up in recent years as environmental consciousness becomes [...]
GSTC 2021 Online Members Meeting The GSTC 2021 Online Members Meeting that took place on December 7th and 9th, brought together a total of 250 participants from 59 countries in the two meetings. Every year, GSTC holds a professional conference focusing on sustainable tourism, standards, certifications, and the GSTC Criteria. The themes are different [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Destination Standard has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status. GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Standards are used by GreenStep Solutions in their assessment and verification programs which provide tools, resources, and consultative support to destinations and businesses across the tourism industry. The [...]
The Municipality of Rhodes has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece and is also the Dodekanese islands' capital. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Rhodes developed into a financial and cultural center of the ancient Greek world and is known worldwide [...]
Sentosa Development Corporation has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), paving the way for the island destination to achieve certification as a sustainable destination. Sentosa is Singapore’s premier island resort getaway, home to an exciting array of themed attractions, award-winning spa retreats, lush rainforests, golden sandy beaches, resort accommodations, [...]
Top: Dr. Mihee Kang, GSTC director for Asia-Pacific, H.E Mr. Ounethouang Khaophanh, Deputy Minister of MICT Bottom: Mr. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO On November 19, 2022, the GSTC successfully conducted virtual sustainable tourism training for Laos' tourism management leaders. The 1-day event was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) of [...]
GetYourGuide has officially joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). GetYourGuide, one of the world’s leading tours and activities booking platforms for unforgettable experiences, today joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reaffirming its commitment to learning more about sustainability in the experiences industry. Through this membership, GetYourGuide will work with [...]
Booking.com Launches Travel Sustainable Badge to Lead Industry in Showcasing a Wider Variety of Sustainable Stays 15 November 2021 - Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel platforms, announced the inaugural launch of its Travel Sustainable badge, a globally relevant sustainability measure that will provide highly coveted information to travelers all over the [...]
The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (PSTPF) The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Framework (PSTPF) was developed by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) on behalf of its members, including the governments of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, [...]
To mark the launch of the GSTC India Working Group, the GSTC held a public webinar on November 10th 2021 titled "Unpacking Sustainable Tourism in India through the lens of the GSTC Criteria." Keynote talk was given by Mr. Arvind Singh (Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India), addressing the move of the tourism [...]
Valere Tjolle third from right, together with the friends from Botswana Tourism Organisation, Wilderness Safaris, and the GSTC team at Chitabe Camp, Botswana (2018) The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and its members are very saddened by the loss of Valere Tjolle (1945-2021). Based in Bath, England, Valere was a leading sustainable [...]
On November 3rd and 4th, 2021, the five regional destination management organizations of the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat - BCRTS (Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Tourism Vancouver Island) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) held a joint virtual tourism summit. [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has joined as a signatory and supporting organization of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism brings a new set of pathways for climate action, aligning the sector with global commitments and catalyzing collaborative solutions to the many challenges [...]
Destination Stewardship Report Autumn 2021 October-December (Volume 2, Issue 2) The Destination Stewardship Report is an e-quarterly collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic world. Please subscribe HERE if you have [...]
The Singapore Tourism Board has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is Singapore’s lead development agency for tourism. Working closely with the tourism industry, STB seeks to strengthen Singapore’s position as one of the world’s most vibrant destinations for business and leisure travellers. These efforts [...]
Airbnb Collaborated with GSTC for Green Stays Awards Airbnb collaborates with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) and Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY) to launch Airbnb’s Green Stays Awards in Malaysia. The Airbnb Green Stays Awards aims to celebrate and recognise small, local tourism [...]
During September 19th-23rd, 2021, GSTC Members Visit Estonia, Slovenian Tourist Board, and GoodPlace met in Slovenia to experience Slovenia Green destinations on a multi-day study tour. This allowed the Slovenian Tourist Board and GoodPlace to share knowledge and experience in sustainable tourism management in Slovenia. Day 1 - GSTC Members meet in Ljubljana, Slovenia [...]
Small Luxury Hotels of the World Launches the ‘Considerate Collection’ and Joins GSTC 4 October 2021 – Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) announces today the launch of Considerate Collection, a community of ‘actively sustainable luxury hotels’ going the extra eco mile to prove that luxury is compatible with longevity.” The hospitality brand [...]
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has officially joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Sustainability is at the top of organizations' agendas today. According to a report from United Nations Climate Change, the number of businesses and local governments committed to reaching net-zero emissions doubled in less than a [...]
This article by GSTC Chairman Luigi Cabrini and GSTC CEO Randy Durband was published on OECD Forum. Can global sustainability standards be key to a green recovery? In 2019, tourism accounted for 10% of the global GDP and 1 of every 11 jobs worldwide, with a record 1.5 billion international tourists. But in 2020 [...]
