What is GSTC Certification??

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an independent organization established in 2007 by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) to promote greater awareness, understanding, and adoption of sustainable tourism practices. You can find more detailed information about the historical development of GSTC at the following link: https://www.gstcouncil.org/about/gstc-history/.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council ®(GSTC) Certification

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC) sets and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria.

There are three different sets of criteria:

1. Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators.
2. Destination Criteria for policymakers and destination managers.
3. MICE Criteria for venues, event organizers, and events/exhibitions.

These criteria are the result of a global effort to develop a common language for sustainability in tourism.

The GSTC Industry Criteria are divided into four main categories:

(A) Sustainable Management
(B) Social and Economic Sustainability
(C) Cultural Sustainability
(D) Environmental Sustainability

The GSTC Criteria serve as the foundation for the accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators/transport providers, and destinations, verifying their sustainable policies and practices. GSTC itself does not directly certify any products or services but provides an accreditation program for Certification Bodies.

The number of hotels and tour operators certified with the GSTC certificate is growing due to the significant advantages it offers in the tourism sector.

The GSTC certificate is awarded to tourism facilities that successfully complete audits conducted by certification bodies accredited by GSTC.