Ref. Ares(2016)699960-09/02/2016 ETIS and Accessible Tourism Conference Brussels, 28 January 2016 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria Luigi Cabrini, Chair, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Advisor of the UNWTO Secretary General
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
What is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)? The Council was created in 2010 with the mission of : Fostering increased knowledge and understanding of sustainable tourism practices Establishing and managing sustainable tourism standards, promoting their adoption Building demand for sustainable travel Registered as a not-for-profit organization
Some Members
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria Set of common guidelines Created with inputs from experts and companies around the world Result of a public consultation process with organizations and individuals Define sustainable tourism in a measurable and credible way Suitable for developed and developing countries For large and small businesses For urban, rural and natural areas Taking into consideration local and indigenous communities
Of public domain... In different languages
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria 41 Criteria in 4 pillars Sustainability Management To date, two sets of GSTC Criteria have been developed: Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators (2008, rev.2012) Criteria for Destinations (Nov 2013) Social & Economic Cultural Environmental
Destination Criteria 4 Sections 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
Destinations-Section A Demonstrate sustainable destination management Sustainable destination strategy Destination management organization Monitoring Seasonal tourism management Adaptation to climate change Inventory of tourism assets and attractions Planning rules Accessibility Acquiring properties Visitor satisfaction Sustainability standards Safety and Security Risk and crisis management Promotion
Examples of criteria for Destinations Indicators SECTION D: Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts CRITERIA D3 - Wildlife protection The destination has a system to ensure compliance with local, national, and international laws and standards for the harvest or capture, display, and sale of wildlife (including plants and animals). INDICATORS IN-D3.a.- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) IN-D3.b.- Regulations and standards for controlling harvesting or capture, display, sale, of plants and animals D4- Greenhouse gas emissions The destination has a system to encourage enterprises to measure, monitor, minimize, publicly report, and mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions from all aspects of their operation (including emissions from service providers). IN-D4.a.- Program to assist enterprises to measure, monitor, minimize, and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions IN-D4.b.- System to assist enterprises to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
Work Areas Destinations Areas Education and training International standards Market access Communication
Destinations Program GSTC Destination Assessment: Application of the GSTC criteria to understand the destination's present status against the world's leading standards and to identify areas for improvement. Training: Provides a good understanding of the criteria in a particular context, through practical examples on how to use the indicators to better plan and manage tourism at destinations.
GSTC Integrity Program GSTC is not a certification program. It rather certifies the certifiers GSTC provides 3 levels of accreditation for Certification bodies: Assurance to travelers and travel professionals that hotels, tour operators and destinations are certified by reputable organizations with rigorous certification requirements The GSTC Accreditation Panel provides an impartial and independent voice for the GSTC Process
GSTC Accreditation Framework Certification standard GSTC evaluates and recognizes standard, if aligned with GSTC criteria GSTC approves certification procedures for impartiality, transparency, and technical competence GSTC endorsed independent accreditation body accredits certification body Certified hotels can use GSTC approved seal alone or alongside certification body s Version 3.0 4/02/2016 14
Use of logo
23 Recognized Standards 1. Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism (Österreichisches Umweltzeichen) 2. Biosphere Responsible Tourism España/ Approved H-TO and D 3. Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) for Hotels Costa Rica 4. EarthCheck Company Standard Australia - Approved H-TO and D 5. Eco-Certification Malta 6. Ecotourism Australia's ecotourism standard & advanced standard- Approved H-TO 7. Ecotourism Ireland - Certification Programme 8. European Ecotourism Labeling Standard (EETLS) 9. Fair Trade in Tourism (FTT) Sudáfrica 10. Green Globe Certification EEUU 11. Great Green Deal 12. Green Star Hotel (Egypt) 13. Hoteles+ Verdes Asociación de Hoteles de Turismo de Argentina (AHT) 14. Japan Ecolodge Association 15. Ministerio de Turismo de Ecuador 16. Qualmark, New Zealand 17. Rainforest Alliance 18. Sistema de Distinción en Turismo Sustentable (SERNATUR) Chile 19. Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program (STEP) EEUU 20. TourCert (CRS Tourism) 21. Travelife Standard for Hotels and Accommodations - UK/The Netherlands 22. Travelife Standard for Tour Operators and Travel Agents - Reino Unido / Países Bajos 23. Zeitz Foundation
Market Access GSTC will contact the following online travel agents and offer this list of eco-certified hotels... GSTC is working to bring eco-certified hotels to millions of customers ready to book them
GSTC Criteria Future Plans Situation today: Criteria for Hotels Tour Operadores and Criteria for Destinations Future Strategy: Country Criteria Destinations Criteria Industry Criteria
Country Criteria Destinations Criteria adopted as models for nationals sustainability standards: India 2014, Ecuador 2015, Indonesia, Bhutan, Mexico Tourism authorities look for a framework at national level Country Criteria will stress national mechanisms for sustainability: laws, policies, economic and fiscal incentives
GSTC Criteria - Industry Concept - a single set of criteria with different sets of indicators for sub sectors: Cruises Adventure MICE Events Attractions / Museums / Conference Centers Transport Airports, Airlines
Thank you! chair@gstcouncil.org www.gstcouncil.org