Public Consultations
Public consultation for GSTC is essential for developing or updating the GSTC Accreditation Policy and Certification Requirements. Alongside the International Standards Committee‘s role in reviewing standards, documents, and policies, consultation engages individuals, groups, and other interested stakeholders. The goal is to collect input and feedback from a diverse array of participants, ensuring transparency in GSTC’s processes and highlighting the importance of collaboration. By considering the needs and expectations of all stakeholders, this approach enables better-informed decisions and more favorable outcomes.
Process of Public Consultation on GSTC Accreditation Policy and Certification Requirements
At GSTC, we are committed to using ISEAL’s Standard-Setting Code of Good Practice Version 6.0 (2014) as reference for conducting public consultation. We place great importance on stakeholder involvement in the revision process of our Manual and prioritize transparency throughout.
To ensure sufficient time for input, we conduct public consultations on revisions for at least 60 days. For major changes, we extend the consultation period to engage a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders.
Ongoing Consultations
| Document | Open Date | Deadline for Submissions |
|---|---|---|
| GSTC Accreditation Manual for Destination Certification Bodies v.2.0 (Draft). | May 20th, 2024 | August 28th, 2024 |
Past Consultations
| Document | Duration | Public Consultation Report | Informative Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Operator On-Site Audit Guidance (Section 13 and 14 of Accreditation Manual v.2.4) | Closed on October 30th, 2019 | ||
| Provisional Agenda for CB Meeting in Azores for GSTC2019 Conference Agenda document: GSTC-CBs Meeting, Dec 4th Azores | From October 7th to November 4th, 2019 | ||
| Survey of CB’s Current Audit Frequency & Duration practices | From January 28th to March 27th, 2020 | ||
| GSTC Accreditation Manual for Industry (Accommodation/Hotel & Tour Operator) v.2.5 | From August 21st to October 31st, 2020 | Informative Session Record and Presentation | |
| GSTC Accreditation Manual for Industry (Accommodation/Hotel & Tour Operator) v.3.0 | From February 10th to April 10th, 2023 | Informative Session Record and Presentation | |
| Creation of an Interpretation Document for specific requirements of the GSTC Industry Standard |
From June 26th to August 26th, 2023 | ||
| GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Industry_Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator v.4.0 | From December 29th, 2023 to April 6th, 2024 | ||
| GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Destination v.2.0 | From May 20th to August 28th, 2024 |
In addition to ongoing public consultations on the GSTC Accreditation policies, GSTC welcomes stakeholder suggestions and feedback at any time. Please contact us at accreditation@gstc.org.