GSTC Mission, Activities, Updates - Sustainable Tourism Forum

Sustainable Tourism Forum, Trento 27 settembre 2024

1. GSTC Mission, Activities, Updates
Roi Ariel
General Manager
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
GSTC Italy Working Group
Trento
27 September 2024

2. GSTC Mission & Core Activities
To be an agent of change in the world of sustainable travel and tourism
by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and
demand for sustainable tourism practices.
1.Developing International Standards –the GSTC Criteria
2.Providing Assurance for Sustainable Tourism
3.Making Destinations Sustainable
4.Market Access for sustainable tourism products and services
5.Increasing Knowledge

3. Sustainability Standards in Tourism Subsectors
Tourism Subsector Global Standard
Hotels/Accommodations GSTC Hotel Criteria
Tour Operators (includes tour packages, land transport, agencies selling travel) GSTC Tour Operator Criteria
Destination Management + Public Policy GSTC Destination Criteria
Aviation IATA and ICAO guidelines (no ‘’standards’’)
Cruise No global Standards
MICE and Corporate GSTC MCE Criteria (new in 2024)
Attractions (theme parks, museums, cultural & natural sites, etc.)
GSTC Attractions Criteria
GSTC is developing -will formally release November 2024
Restaurants / Food & Beverage
GSTC “Food Service” Criteria
Development began last month -name NOT determined

4. GSTC Criteria Sets
Current sets of GSTC Criteria
GSTC Industry Criteria
(Hotels & Tour Operators)
(2008, 2012, 2016)
GSTC Destinations Criteria
(2013, 2019)
GSTC MICECriteria
(2024)

5. Four Pillars of GSTC Criteria
A: Demonstrate sustainable destination management
B: Maximize economic benefits to the host community
and minimize negative impacts
C: Maximize benefits to communities, visitors, and culture;
minimize negative impacts
D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts

6. Certification
Certificationis defined as a voluntary,
third-party assessment, through an audit, of a tourism
enterprise or destination for conformity to a standard.
Certification helps verify claims
GSTC does NOT conduct certification. That is the job of the many Certification
Bodies throughout the world; our job is to accredit those that certify.

7. Assurance of Certification
How to choose a Certification Body?
GSTC Accreditation: verifying the process of how Certification Bodies
certify businesses, in a competent and neutral manner. Procedures
meet international principles for transparency, impartiality and
competence.
“certifying the certifiers”

8. Accreditationis the Mark of a Mature CertificationService
Photo space
Source: the World Bank
https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/449941553266027206-0090022019/original/Section8ProductCertification.pdf

9. Accredited Certification

10. GSTC Accredited Certification Bodies
Accreditation Body
procedures
credibly verified Unknown
procedures
Transparent
Impartial
Competent
?
GSTC-Accredited Certifying Bodies
Transparent?
Impartial?
Competent?
Non-accredited
Certification Bodies

11. Public Sector Engagement with GSTC
Policy -national
or provincial
Destination
Management
Industry
guidance
or requirements

12. Sustainable Tourism Training Program
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13. Sustainable Tourism Training Program
Chinese
Bahasa-Indonesia
Bahasa-Malaysia
Turkish
Russian
Thai
Vietnamese
Arabic

14. 600+ Members in 108 countries

15. GSTC Italy Working Group
The GSTC Working Groups are vital to the organization,
allowing GSTC Members to work together with a focus on an area that
needs special attention.
With many GSTC Members active in Italy trying to work together to promote the GSTC
framework, a dedicated Working Group focused on activities in Italy was established
in 2022.
The creation of a network of tourism professionals is fundamental to navigate the
challenges to direct the tourism sector towards sustainability pathways.

16. #GSTC2024Singapore Global Conference
Hope to See You in Singapore in November!

17. Grazie a tutti voi
Contact: Roi Ariel [email protected]
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