The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Private Course sponsored by Sapporo City was held from the 19th to the 21st of November 2025 in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan. GSTC Trainer, Kazuhiro Arai, CEO of Daisetsuzan Experience, shared his knowledge and expertise through practical examples and valuable insights, providing participants with a deep understanding of the GSTC Standards, their relevance, and their use across different contexts within the tourism sector.
As part of the training, a site visit was organised for 24 participants at the Cross Hotel Sapporo. The visit provided participants with firsthand insight into the hotel’s operations and sustainability practices in a real hospitality environment. This experiential component enriched the training by linking theory with practice and encouraging reflection and discussion on how sustainability principles can be applied in day-to-day hotel operations.
By observing real operational contexts as the Cross Hotel Sapporo, participants could better understand the challenges and opportunities that arise from applying sustainability principles in practice. This hands-on experience contributed to more meaningful learning and peer exchange.
“The GSTC training in Sapporo was very meaningful, as the city has a population of about 1.9 million despite being a heavy-snow region with around 5 meters of snowfall annually, a combination rarely seen in the world. Participants engaged seriously and enthusiastically, actively joining discussions and exercises. They showed great interest in applying the GSTC Standards to their work. The interactive atmosphere made the training productive and enjoyable.” Said Mr. Arai.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding of sustainable tourism and learning how to apply the GSTC Standards in practice, upcoming GSTC Sustainable Tourism Courses are held regularly around the world and online, open to professionals from all sectors of the tourism industry. For more information about future training opportunities, please click here.
