Visit Skellefteå has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Skellefteå is located in Västerbotten County, Sweden. It is one of the highlights of Swedish Lapland and the subarctic region, offering 40 miles of coastline, 1,500 lakes and rivers, the vast pine and spruce forests, as well as a lively [...]
Hostels 75% Less Carbon Intense Than Hotels, According To New Research A research study conducted by Bureau Veritas in partnership with Hostelworld has found that hostels are approximately three-quarters less carbon intense (tCO₂e) than hotels – according to independent research and carbon footprinting data modelling conducted across a selection of European hotels and hostels. [...]
After two years without an on-site GSTC Conference due to the pandemic, the GSTC2022 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held in Seville, Spain, from December 12-15. GSTC2022 Sevilla will bring together international and domestic tourism stakeholders involved in the development and promotion of sustainable travel & tourism; including the public sector, hotels, tour [...]
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) The Costa Rican Tourism Board (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) is the government agency responsible for promoting sustainability in Costa Rica. The ICT guarantees a supportive and equitable sustainable tourism development model that uses innovation, the development [...]
How has health and political crisis impacted travel, and is tourism ready for sustainability? Article and interview by Anula Galewska, Travindy This article is part of the “Sustainable tourism insights” interview series with speakers and participants of the Green Destinations Conference in Athens, Greece held in September 2022. Dr. Ioannis Pappas is the Director [...]
GSTC is looking for a Communications Coordinator to be responsible for accomplishing a number of functions of the organization’s communications. This is a great opportunity to work remotely with a multicultural team on a meaningful subject. See the GSTC Communications Coordinator Job Description for full details. Roles & Responsibilities: 1. External Communications Prepare press releases and [...]
GSTC is looking for a Communications Coordinator to be responsible for accomplishing a number of functions of the organization’s communications. This is a great opportunity to work remotely with a multicultural team on a meaningful subject. See the GSTC Communications Coordinator Job Description for full details. Roles & Responsibilities: 1. External Communications Prepare press releases and [...]
The GSTC Board of Directors plays an integral role in the leadership of the organization. Most seats on the board are filled via annual elections of and by current members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The GSTC Election Committee has validated the votes and released the results of the 2022 election. Four board [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the TourCert Set of Criteria for Destinations has achieved ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status. The TourCert standard for destinations was established in 2014. All criteria catalogues of TourCert are based on the international quality and environmental management standards according to ISO and EMAS as well [...]
Luxury travellers are demanding sustainable tourism, and hotels are stepping up Article written by Lijee Philip in the Economic Times Raas Chhatrasagar is a luxurious, 16-tent resort that sits in the middle of an artificially created forest spread across 1,500 acres near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. It is home to over 250 species of birds and [...]
Can We Certify Our Way to Sustainable Travel? Article written by Sun Woo Baik in Asparagus Magazine When I think about the impacts my travels have had, my mind immediately goes to the massive, gas-guzzling, carbon-spewing aluminum tube I boarded to get to my destinations. Aviation is the most obvious culprit for travel-related emissions, [...]
Accor has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accor is the story of two friends, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson, who opened their first Novotel in 1967 at a time when no one in France yet believed in this new hotel business model. Through their creativity and boldness, they [...]
The GSTC is pleased to announce that SOCOTEC Certification International, the Certification-specialized subsidiary of the SOCOTEC group, has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status for its Sustainability Management System for Hotels. The Sustainability Management System provided by SOCOTEC Certification International helps organizations and tourism businesses (travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs and communities, to achieve [...]
GSTC welcomes Trip.com Group as a new member Singapore, 17 October 2022 — The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to welcome Trip.com Group as a new member to its global network. Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group [...]
World Standards Day is observed globally on October 14th to celebrate the importance of standards-related activities and honor the collaborative effort of individuals and standardization bodies involved in the development of voluntary standards. This commemorative day aims to raise awareness to the importance of standardization in the global economy among regulators, industries, and consumers. [...]
Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management – University of Colombo includes GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) was integrated into a formal university certificate course for the first time. The University of Colombo offers a Certificate Course in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management. It is an interdisciplinary program [...]
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 [...]
How to Tread Lightly in Fragile Places Article written by Elaine Glusac in The New York Times Organizing a responsible visit to sensitive areas like the Galápagos Islands or Antarctica involves research, decoding certifications and possibly a travel adviser. For independent travelers, sustainable certifications can help identify responsible operations. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council [...]
GSTC 2022 Asia-Pacific Conference in Korea Concluded After two years without an on-site GSTC Conference due to the pandemic, the 2022 GSTC Asia-Pacific Conference took place in Saemangeum, Gunsan, Jeonbuk, Korea, from September 15-17. It brought together Korean and international tourism stakeholders involved in the development and promotion of sustainable travel & tourism, including [...]
GSTC India Working Group: Leadership Change Aditi Chanchani assumes responsibilities as Chair of the GSTC India Working Group from October 2022, which came together to augment the functions of GSTC globally based on agreed-upon principles of sustainability at the national level. “I have known Aditi, as an influential voice among the civil society space [...]
