The GSTC2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference took place from 21 to 24 April in Phuket, Thailand, at the Royal Phuket City Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town. The event brought together tourism professionals, destination representatives, academics, and sustainability experts from around the world to discuss key challenges and practical solutions for advancing sustainable [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which sets and manages the leading global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, has welcomed dnata Travel Group as a new member. Headquartered in Dubai and part of leading global air and travel services provider dnata, dnata Travel Group’s GSTC membership underscores its commitment to embedding sustainability across its operations. The Group [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), through its Yuluca Alliance (AYLAC), participated in the World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America), held from April 14–16, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil. WTM Latin America brought together industry professionals from across sectors to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and address key challenges [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published its 2025 Annual Report, which presents an overview of the organization’s work over the past year and highlights key developments across its main areas of activity. The report reflects GSTC’s continued commitment to advancing sustainable tourism globally through the GSTC Standards, its Sustainable Tourism Training Program [...]
Experts project that 2026 will likely be among the four hottest years on record, as climate change picks pace Data shows 237% jump in searches for cooler destinations and escapes during summer Earth is heating up: The global surface temperature has increased -faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announces the release of its 2025 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Report, marking the third consecutive year of systematic performance review and organizational learning. Previously titled the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the updated name emphasizes learning alongside monitoring and evaluation, reinforcing GSTC’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and [...]
For many professionals across the travel and tourism sector, GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conferences are among the key international events dedicated to advancing sustainability in tourism. As these conferences continue to bring together destination leaders, tourism businesses, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders from around the world, GSTC also continues working to strengthen the sustainability [...]
Visit Hungary has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Hungary is known for its cultural heritage, historic cities, and varied tourism experiences. From Budapest and its eight UNESCO World Heritage sites to Lake Balaton, wine regions, thermal baths, and national parks, the country offers a mix of cultural, natural, [...]
[Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing] The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that Mandarin Oriental, a GSTC Member with GSTC-Committed status, has achieved GSTC Certification* for all 40 eligible hotels across its global portfolio. This important milestone reflects the Group’s continued commitment to responsible tourism and reinforces its long-standing efforts to [...]
Luigi Cabrini, GSTC Chair, has been invited to join the Tourism Advisory Council of the UNESCO Global Geopark of Lanzarote and the Chinijo Islands, following an invitation issued by Elena Mateo, coordinator of the UNESCO Global Geopark, and Isabel Betancort, head of the management team of the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism, guided [...]
The Sanya Tourism Board (STB) has officially joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a member. Located at 18 degrees north latitude on the southern tip of Hainan Island, Sanya is China’s only tropical coastal tourist city. It has cultivated a robust ecological foundation, with a forest coverage rate stable at 70.1%, the [...]
HBX Group has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, outlining the company's progress in sustainability, governance, and transparency, and for the first time incorporating externally assured disclosures in line with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). “As we embrace this new chapter, our ESG ambitions remain central to our strategy and purpose… [...]
GSTC will participate in the PATA Annual Summit 2026, which will take place from May 11 to May 13, 2026, in Gyeongju and Pohang, Republic of Korea. The summit will be held under the theme ‘Navigating Towards a Resilient Future’ and will also mark PATA's 75th anniversary. GSTC’s participation will reflect the organization’s continued [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) co-organized a European Climate Action Day event in Brussels, Belgium, on March 26, 2026, titled "Building Climate-Resilient Destinations: Integrating Climate Indicators into Sustainability Standards." Co-hosted as an official European Climate Action Day event, the gathering brought together policymakers, destination representatives, tourism businesses, and sustainability experts [...]
The GSTC Hotel Standard v.4.0 and GSTC Tour Operator Standard v.4.0 have been translated into Japanese and are now available to download in the GSTC Standard Translations section. We extend our sincere thanks to the GSTC Japan team and trainers for their valuable support in making these translations available. GSTC ホテルスタンダード第4版およびGSTCツアーオペレータースタンダード第4版の日本語版が完成し、GSTCスタンダード翻訳ページよりダウンロードいただけるようになりました。 本翻訳の作成にあたり、多大なるご協力をいただきましたGSTCジャパンチームおよびトレーナーの皆様に、心より感謝申し上げます。 [...]
[Photo taken at ITB Berlin 2026, from left to right: Christos Markopoulos, CEO of Royalcert, Roi Ariel, GSTC Stakeholder Engagement Director, and Matt Barrett, Managing Director of Intertek Cristal] Royalcert, a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body, expands its scope to certify hotels against the Intertek Cristal Eco Check Standard, a GSTC-Recognized Standard aligned with the GSTC [...]
Dusit Hotels and Resorts has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Founded in 1949, Dusit International has evolved into a diversified hospitality company spanning hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, real estate development, and hospitality-related services. Today, its portfolio includes 290 hotels, resorts, and luxury villas across 18 countries, [...]
Meet Dilijan has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Located in the Tavush Province of northern Armenia, Dilijan is known for its natural surroundings and cultural heritage. Between Tbilisi and Yerevan, Dilijan is surrounded by forests, trails, and valleys, offering both nature and culture, with museums, galleries, and a [...]
VisitBalaton365 has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Located in Hungary, Lake Balaton is Central Europe's largest freshwater lake and one of the country's most distinctive tourism regions. Often called the ‘Hungarian Sea’, the area is known for its varied landscapes, historic towns, volcanic hills, vineyards, beaches, and cultural [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that SGS 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. Established in 1878, SGS is a testing, inspection, and certification company [...]
