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 [...]
Somerset Palace Seoul hotel, an affiliate of Shinyoung Group (Korea’s first-generation real estate developer) and operated by GSTC-Commited Member, The Ascott Limited, has become the first in the domestic hotel industry to obtain the GSTC Certification by Control Union, a GSTC-accredited Certification Body, in Korea. Somerset Palace Seoul held an official ‘GSTC Hotel Certificate [...]
- The GSTC participated in the 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event, organised by the Sanya Tourism Board and supported by PATA. Held in Sanya, Hainan, China from the 18th to the 21st of November, under the theme “Coastal Tourism: Symbiosis and Development of Nature and Culture,” the event aimed to convene global tourism [...]
- Dr. Mihee Kang, GSTC Chief Assurance Officer, participated in the high-level Regional Workshop on Promoting Green and Sustainable Tourism, held from 24–26 November 2025 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. National and international guest speakers, private-sector representatives, development partners, national and international organizations, and approximately 250 participants from across the region also attended the ceremony, [...]
- The European Commission announced the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, celebrating destinations leading in accessibility, sustainability, digitalization, and cultural heritage. Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Tampere (Finland) were selected as the winners of the EU’s 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions, following a European Jury meeting held [...]
GSTC Member, Lanzarote hosted a full-day programme at Jameos del Agua on the 28th of November, bringing together government representatives, international organizations, and tourism professionals to reaffirm the relevance of the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30 within the framework of its ‘World Conference on Sustainable Tourism’, organized by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, with [...]
GSTC participated in the 3rd Thailand-Singapore Cruise Development Taskforce Meeting in Singapore, hosted by GSTC Member Singapore Tourism Board, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and advance sustainability within the cruise sector. The meeting brought representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and various government agencies to meet [...]
GSTC CEO Randy Durband, as a member of the TOURISE Advisory Board, was present at TOURISE’s inaugural Global Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, held from November 11 to 13, 2025. Where governments, business leaders, investors, tourism professionals, and technology experts gathered to deliver and discuss high-impact initiatives aimed at building a more sustainable, equitable, [...]
- Pomorskie Tourist Board has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Poland is a Central European country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse natural landscapes bordered by seven countries. It stretches from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Tatra Mountains in the south, offering a variety [...]
The Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca hosted the closing event of the European I-STARS project on November 14, 2025. The initiative, formed by six entities from across Europe, supported 125 tourism SMEs in adopting sustainable practices, pursuing certifications, and developing green skills, providing each business with financial assistance. The event brought together project partners, [...]
Ascott launched last week the Disability Inclusion Playbook for the accommodation sector in partnership with Colorful Earth, specialists in disability inclusion, and supported by SG Enable (Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion), World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, and Valuable 500 (an international non-profit of over 500 multinational corporations advancing disability inclusion). An estimated 1.3 [...]
On October 16, 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Hospitality Management Institute (IMHI) – MSc in Hospitality Management, an ESSEC Business School program, to deliver the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course (STC) as part of IMHI’s class titled “Sustainable Tourism & Destination Management.” This collaboration [...]
- The Reef-World Foundation's mission, “to inspire and empower people to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources, particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems,” has enabled them to achieve a significant and lasting impact over the years: More than 1,500 marine tourism businesses have actively reduced local threats through their Green Fins membership. [...]
In October 2025, the JTB Group released its Sustainability Report 2025, detailing the company’s milestones in advancing sustainable tourism. The JTB Group states that it prioritizes sustainability at its core and promotes sustainable tourism by developing products, services, and solutions that consider both social and environmental sustainability. Last November 2024, the Group obtained the [...]
- GSTC was at the World Travel Market London, held 4-6 November 2025. This year’s conference focused on the key theme “Reimagining Travel in a Changing World,” exploring themes such as new global policies, shifting traveler behaviors, and the evolving role of sustainability in shaping the industry’s future. Dr. Mihee Kang, GSTC Chief Assurance [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) held in Dubai from 27–29 October 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah. The event brought together leading hospitality investors and senior decision-makers to explore key issues in hotel development, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This year, FHS World marked its 20th anniversary, celebrating two [...]
The Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT) has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in Central America, Honduras stands out for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the country features tropical forests, mountain ranges, rivers, and extensive coastlines. It [...]
[Etifor | Valuing Nature Staff] On September 2nd, 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Training Partnership Agreement with Etifor | Valuing Nature. Based in Italy, Etifor is a certified B Corporation and a spin-off of the University of Padua, providing international consulting services to put nature at the heart of [...]
- GSTC participated in the Greening the Islands International (GTI) Conference 2025, held from October 28 to 31 in the Reef Hotel in Gozo, Malta. The event marked the 10th edition of the conference, celebrating a decade of innovation and sustainability for islands worldwide. The conference opened with remarks from: Ian Borg, Deputy Prime [...]
As a resort island, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) states that it is committed to driving sustainable development by working closely with its stakeholders to build a sustainable Sentosa community. The publication of SDC’s fifth Sustainability Report outlines its sustainability journey and provides insights into its management practices and performance regarding Environmental, Social, and Governance [...]
