The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) joined the Second Regional Meeting of Auditors of the Central American Integrated System for Quality and Sustainability (SICCS) in Belize from 24 - 25 March 2026. SICCS is a seal of tourism quality for MSMEs in the Central American Region. Organized by the ‘Secretaría de Integración Turística Centroamericana’ [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published a revised version 5.0 of the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Hotel/Accommodation, Tour Operator, MICE, and Attraction. This version reflects the expansion of accreditation scopes to include MICE (covering venues, event organizers, and events/exhibitions) and Attraction certification. The revised Manual was approved on March [...]
TOKYU HOTELS has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) TOKYU HOTELS is a hotel brand operated by the Tokyu Group, managing a portfolio of hotels across Japan. Through its hotel operations, the company provides accommodation and hospitality services across a range of brands, serving both business and leisure travelers [...]
The MICE sector is increasingly integrating sustainability into its planning and operations, driven by evolving industry expectations and the need for more responsible and sustainable practices. In this context, having clear, practical frameworks is essential to support consistent, measurable implementation. The GSTC MICE Standard was launched last year (for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), transnational coordinator of EuroVelo, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a formal framework for cooperation. This Memorandum of Understanding reflects a shared interest in advancing sustainability principles and encouraging greater alignment between tourism, mobility, and responsible development. Through this [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the international in-person ‘’Workshop to Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Environmental, Social and Economic Issues for Tourism Enterprises, under the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru, on February 25 and 26, 2026. The workshop formed part of [...]
The Yuluca Alliance (AYLAC) will be present at WTM Latin America 2026, taking place from April 14-16, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil. During the event, Jorge Moller, GSTC Latin America & Caribbean Program Director, will participate in the session “Sustainable Management and Certification: Pathways for Implementing the GSTC Standards in Latin America and the [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination Assessment of Phuket took place between October 2024 and September 2025. It provided a comprehensive overview of the region’s sustainable tourism practices across four key pillars: Sustainable Management, Socio-economic Sustainability, Cultural Sustainability, and Environmental Sustainability. Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and a well-established tourism destination located in [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the revision process for the GSTC Industry Standard for Hotels and Tour Operators, version 3. As a result, the previous single standard (GSTC Industry Standard), which included two sets of suggested performance indicators for hotels and tour operators, has now [...]
The 4th GSTC Academic Symposium will be held in Phuket, Thailand, on April 21st, just before the 2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference. This one-day in-person symposium convenes researchers, academics, and practitioners to engage in diverse dialogues on sustainability in tourism, following the same established methodology that has guided previous editions. The program brings together academic [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is announcing the launch of its very first training course dedicated to the tourism attractions industry: the GSTC Sustainable Attraction Online Course. The course will help businesses and organizations understand how to integrate sustainability into the development, management, and daily operations of tourist attractions. This inaugural course marks [...]
The international conference “Smart and Sustainable Tourism: Impacts, Approaches and Solutions” took place on 5 December 2025 at the IUAV University of Venice. The event was organised within the framework of the Interreg Italy–Croatia Program, co-funded by the European Union, and developed under the ADRIJO ROUTES project. The conference brought [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the CETT Tourism Policy Dialogue, held on 3 December 2025 at the Hotel Universitari Alimara in Barcelona; a one-day event focused on climate change and its impact on tourism. The dialogue brought together national and international experts for a program that included keynote presentations, case studies, [...]
GSTC participated in the ‘Forum on Sustainability & Social Responsibility in Tourism’, held on 25–26 November 2025 in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The forum brought together public authorities, tourism businesses, destinations, and international experts to address key challenges and opportunities related to sustainable and responsible tourism development in Latin America, with a strong focus [...]
As part of the visit of Jorge Moller, Program Director for Latin America & Caribbean of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainability Week took place in Quintana Roo, Cancun. The agenda brought together university students, public authorities, academia, and the business sector around a shared goal: to reflect on [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation (BMoTIA), a GSTC Member, celebrate the formation of the new Destination Stewardship Councils (DSCs) on the islands of Inagua and Andros (North Andros District) in October 2025. With the inclusion of the two latest Councils, The BMOTIA has successfully [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) congratulates Centara Hotels & Resorts for achieving full certification across all 42 of its properties worldwide. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Centara’s sustainability journey, demonstrating its commitment to responsible hospitality. Centara first aligned its internal sustainability framework, Centara EarthCare, with the GSTC Hotel Standard, the global [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has officially opened registration for the GSTC2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, which will take place at Royal Phuket City Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town in Phuket, Thailand, from the 21st to the 24th of April, 2026. The Conference aims to bring together global leaders, industry professionals, [...]
Overview The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) seeks an Assurance Operations Coordinator. The Assurance Operations Coordinator provides operational and administrative support to GSTC’s Accreditation Division and Auditor Training Program. The role ensures smooth coordination of day-to-day operations, document management, communication with stakeholders, and logistical support for accreditation and training activities. See the GSTC Assurance [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is developing and will launch a tailored Pre-Training Course on Sustainable Tourism for RNT HOTELS Co., Ltd, a Japanese hotel group operating more than 40 hotels throughout Japan under the Richmond Hotels and THE BASEMENT brands. This customized sustainability training is part of a broader multi-year training program [...]
