GSTC will be present at ITB Berlin 2026 (March 3rd-5th), with a dedicated area for the GSTC secretariat and GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies at Hall 4.1 (Responsible Tourism). Come meet us there. In addition to the physical exhibition area, GSTC representatives will share insights through the following talks at The Lighthouse Stage in Hall 4.1b Adventure ∙ [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) 2026 Conference will be taking place this April 21-24, 2026 in Phuket, Thailand. The conference will bring together sustainability leaders, tourism professionals and industry stakeholders from around the world to advance sustainability efforts across the travel and tourism industry. The GSTC2026 Phuket Conference will consist of insightful discussions, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and QueerVadis join forces to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion as an essential component of social sustainability, fostering a global tourism industry that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with QueerVadis in November 2025 to support the integration of [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) took part in a high-level sustainability dialogue in Davos, held ahead of the Global Tourism Forum – Power 40 (GTF Power 40), organized by EuroNews Hub Davos. This engagement formed part of the lead-up activities surrounding Davos week, bringing tourism into broader global conversations on sustainability, leadership, and [...]
In December 2025, GSTC announced the completion of the revision of its Industry Standard for Hotels and Tour Operators. As part of this revision, the former GSTC Industry Standard version 3.0 has evolved into two distinct standards: the GSTC Hotel Standard version 4.0 and the GSTC Tour Operator Standard version 4.0. To support a [...]
The Sustainable Tourism Partnership - Urban Agenda for the EU, which aims to empower local authorities and destination management organizations (DMOs) in supporting the green transition of tourism SMEs, has launched two new publications. The first, Greening Tourism SMEs: A Practical Handbook, provides detailed insights into certification pathways and enabling conditions for uptake. The [...]
GSTC Member Península Papagayo released its 2025 Legacy Book, a publication that presents its environmental and community initiatives and invites guests to participate. The document brings together conservation actions, community outreach programs, and educational activities, and explains how visitors can engage through experiences or contributions linked to nature protection and social development in the [...]
Overview The Marketing Manager will be responsible for developing and executing market access benefits for businesses that achieve a meaningful degree of verified compliance with the GSTC Standards See the GSTC Marketing Manager Job Description for full details. Roles & Responsibilities Market development of GSTC-Certified businesses • Translate certification into clear market-facing value propositions [...]
Overview The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is seeking an Accreditation Compliance Manager who will be responsible for conducting and overseeing accreditation assessments of certification bodies (CBs) against GSTC accreditation requirements. See the GSTC Accreditation Compliance Manager Job Description for full details. Roles & Responsibilities The position plays a central role in safeguarding the [...]
GSTC Member GREEN Hospitality participated in the launch of “Conscious Cooking – Asian Delights,” a cookbook developed in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) School of Biological Sciences and the food-saving app CHOMP, the result of a three-year project among them, aiming to tackle food waste reduction in the hospitality industry. Hong [...]
GSTC Member Destination Canada has released Canada’s Sustainability Storybook, a publication presenting sustainability initiatives related to business events across Canadian destinations. The document brings together examples of environmental, sociocultural, and economic programs implemented by cities, venues, and tourism partners, illustrating how sustainability can be integrated into event planning and delivery. The Storybook aligns its [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has launched the GSTC Futures Lab for Sustainable Tourism, a new initiative aimed at strengthening the role of research, data, and evidence-based insights in advancing sustainable tourism globally. The Futures Lab has been established to support GSTC’s mission of increasing knowledge, understanding, and adoption of sustainable tourism practices. [...]
In December 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Training Partnership Agreement with the Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Council (ISTC), marking a new step forward in expanding access to sustainability training across Indonesia. ISTC, a quasi-governmental institution established by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, leads national efforts to advance sustainable tourism through policy coordination, [...]
- The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2025 Chungcheongnam-do Sustainable Tourism Forum, held on the 17th of December 2025 in Gongju, Republic of Korea. The forum, organized by the Chungcheongnam-do Social Economy Support Center and The Korea Sustainable Tourism Network convened representatives from public institutions, tourism organisations, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course was delivered in a private training session sponsored by the Hyuga and East Usuki Wide-Area Tourism Promotion Council for its employees and stakeholders, reinforcing the region’s commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism development. The training took place in Misato Town, adjacent to Hyuga City, Miyazaki, Japan, from 10 to [...]
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 Sustainable Tourism Private Course for Gifu Prefecture took place from the 3rd to the 5th of December 2025 in Gifu City, Japan, bringing together 16 participants aiming to learn and integrate sustainability principles into tourism planning, management, and development. Delivered by GSTC Trainer Kazuhiro Arai, CEO of Daisetsuzan Experience, it focused on [...]
- 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 [...]
