The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce its new website domain to be gstc.org instead of gstcouncil.org. This change reflects the organization's strong and growing presence worldwide, where it is widely known simply as "GSTC." The transition to gstc.org is designed to simplify the connection for stakeholders, partners, tourism professionals, and [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TSE Global has gained the GSTC-accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels, accommodations, and Tour Operators to the GSTC Hotel Standard and GSTC Tour Operator Standard with a worldwide geographical scope, excluding the USA, Canada, and Australia. TSE Global was [...]
The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment, has reaffirmed its dedication to sustainable tourism practices in its 2024 Sustainability Report, with significant references to its ongoing collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). As one of the first hospitality groups to attain GSTC-Committed status, Ascott has embedded the GSTC Standards [...]
What motivates travelers to adopt sustainable behaviours? A new report co-produced by Accor, Booking.com, and the University of Surrey delves into this question through an in-depth study. It includes 24 traveler interviews, the journey analysis of 22 additional travelers, and rigorous lab-based behavioral research with 67 participants. The study was designed to help address [...]
The GSTC MICE Standard for venues, event organizers, and events & exhibitions have now been translated into Japanese with the support of the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). It is available to download in the Standards Translations section here. 会場、イベント主催者、イベントおよび展示会向けのGSTC MICEスタンダードが、日本観光庁（JTA）の支援を受けて日本語に翻訳されました。日本語版は「スタンダードの翻訳」セクションからダウンロードできます。
A successful Consultation Workshop on the GSTC Standard for Food and Beverage, which is under development, was held in Taiwan on April 25th, hosted by Forte Hotel Group, a GSTC member, at Forte Hotel Xizhi. GSTC General Manager, Roi Ariel, opened the one-day event with updates on recent GSTC activities. [...]
Under the theme “Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future,” the PATA Annual Summit 2025 hosted by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and supported by Turkish Airlines, focused on how cultural heritage and long-standing sustainable practices can contribute to shaping the future of tourism. Held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from April 21st to 23rd, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting its ongoing efforts to advance sustainable tourism worldwide. The report showcases key milestones, strategic initiatives, and the organization's continued commitment to shaping a more responsible and resilient tourism industry. “Collaboration is at the heart of sustainable tourism. The 2024 Annual Report [...]
Destination Asia has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Destination Asia is a leading DMC based in Asia, currently operating across nine countries in Asia, with 17 operational offices across the network. With business divisions covering leisure travel, MICE and cruise, Destination Asia states it remains committed to ethical [...]
GSTC renames its global standards from ‘GSTC Criteria’ to ‘GSTC Standards’ to enhance clarity and alignment with international terminology. "Our founders named these standards the ‘GSTC Criteria’ to distinguish them as globally managed standards from other sustainable tourism standards. However, that name led some stakeholders to believe they were something other than standards. Our Board [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Kobe University, was held with the participation of local and external tourism stakeholders and students from the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies at Kobe University. The course took place from March 18th to 20th, 2025, in Kannabe Kougen, located in Toyooka City, Hyogo, a region [...]
Rosewood Hotel Group has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Rosewood Hotel Group is a leading global lifestyle and hospitality management group. It encompasses four brands: ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts; upper-upscale New World Hotels & Resorts; Asaya, an integrated well-being concept; and Carlyle & Co., a modern and [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TÜV Rheinland, through its China office, has gained the GSTC-accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels/accommodations to GSTC Hotel Criteria with worldwide geographical area.TÜV Rheinland is an international provider of technical services for testing, inspection, certification, consultation, and training. The company [...]
CLIA Cruise Week, including the fourth edition of the European Summit, brought together the cruise industry’s most senior cruise line leaders, policymakers, business partners, and suppliers to discuss the future of the industry. The European Summit has established itself as the platform for the cruise community to share its vision for [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 14th Annual Meeting of HAPCO & DES, held on March 10-11, 2025, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Center, in Athens, Greece. The event addressed the evolving landscape of the meetings and hospitality industry, emphasizing adaptability and innovation. Discussions included repositioning Greece as a meetings destination, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has revised the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies - Destination (hereafter, the Destination Accreditation Manual) and was approved on March 26, 2025. The manual is available on the GSTC Accreditation Documents webpage. Given the dynamic nature of the tourism industry, periodic updates and revisions to the certification [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has unveiled a new self-assessment tool designed specifically for destinations seeking to measure and enhance their sustainable tourism practices. The tool offers a simple yet effective way for destination to evaluate their progress across the four pillars of the GSTC Destination Criteria: Sustainable Management: This section encourages destinations [...]
Sustainable travel is no longer just an ethical choice – it’s a business imperative and a rising opportunity in the global tourism industry. In Asia Pacific (APAC), where travel habits are as diverse as the region itself, this opportunity comes with unique challenges and responsibilities. Recent research estimates that the global sustainable tourism market [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 20th Green & Blue Tourism Forum during ITB Berlin 2025, held from March 4–6. As part of the event, Dr. Ioannis Pappas, GSTC Director for the Mediterranean Region, delivered a keynote presentation focused on sustainable coastal and maritime tourism. The session explored strategies for integrating [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TÜV AUSTRIA TURK has gained the GSTC-Accredited Certification Body status with the scope of certifying hotels/accommodations to GSTC Hotel Criteria.TÜV AUSTRIA TURK, part of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group, provides certification, inspection, testing, and training services. Operating in Turkey since 2005 and institutionalized in [...]
