The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has released its 2024 Monitoring and Evaluation Report (M&E Report).
GSTC’s Monitoring and Evaluation System tracks progress toward meeting the goals outlined in its Theory of Change. This conceptual map traces a causal pathway, linking the strategies employed (the actions taken) to the resulting outcomes (what has been changed) and the underlying assumptions of the process. GSTC’s Impact Pathways vividly illustrate these dynamic interconnections.
GSTC’s Monitoring and Evaluation System plays a crucial role in assessing and enhancing the effectiveness and impact of its various initiatives. It also ensures accountability to stakeholders by maintaining transparency and credibility through the provision of reliable and verifiable information.
The 2024 M&E Report delivers a comprehensive review of the GSTC’s accomplishments, detailing the methodologies and key findings from our internal evaluation of the broad implementation of the GSTC Standards, the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism, and the effectiveness of GSTC’s initiatives. Its main purpose is to present the performance indicators set for each GSTC service alongside their outcomes for the year compared to last year, while also highlighting ongoing and future efforts to further enhance GSTC’s impact.
“Our 2024 M&E Report reflects GSTC’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement in sustainable tourism. By assessing our progress and impact, we can refine our strategies and support destinations, businesses, and stakeholders in advancing sustainability efforts worldwide.” States Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
The GSTC M&E Indicators serve as the foundation for monitoring the performance of the GSTC. The GSTC has developed a total of 102 M&E Indicators through the participation of all staff members. This report includes 35 indicators that cover the following areas: 12 for Membership and Engagement, 5 for Auditor Training, 5 for Public Training, 1 for Criteria Management, 5 for the Recognition of Standards Program, 5 for Accreditation, and 2 for the Destination Program.
The report covers multiple facets of GSTC’s operations, such as membership and stakeholder engagement, training programs for both auditors and the general public, the development of criteria, and recognition and accreditation processes, among other areas, as well as a dedicated section on key takeaways from 2024. With a new section highlighting the results of the “Impact Evaluation of GSTC Certification: Insights from the Turkiye Sustainable Tourism Program.”
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To view past reports, click here.
