The GSTC2025 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference took place from 5 to 8 August at the Sheraton in Denarau, Fiji. The event brought together tourism professionals, destination representatives, academics, and sustainability experts from around the world to discuss key challenges and solutions in advancing sustainable tourism practices. Set against the backdrop of one of [...]
We invite tourism stakeholders and certification bodies to participate in the public consultation on the new accreditation requirements for certification bodies, which aim to demonstrate their ability to provide reliable and trustworthy certification services to the MICE (Venues, Event Organizers, and Events/Exhibitions) and/or Attraction sectors. The public consultation will run for 100 days from [...]
City Destinations Alliance has released a white paper titled “The Score is Not the Story”, offering a comprehensive reflection on the role of sustainability indexes and certifications in urban tourism management. The publication provides insights into how cities across Europe are using these tools to advance their sustainability agendas, foster collaboration, and align with [...]
Ascott hosted the workshop “Shaping Sustainable Tourism, Together” on July 17, 2025, at lyf Ginza Tokyo, the first hotel in Japan to receive GSTC certification by Vireo, a GSTC-accredited certification body. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in this day event, which brought together future leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to [...]
Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, was recently interviewed by Nikos Diamantopoulos, General Manager of Marketing Greece, to share insights on the role of sustainability standards in shaping the future of tourism. During the conversation, Mr. Durband described how the GSTC Standards are developed through an incredibly inclusive process (previously known as GSTC Criteria), serving as [...]
GSTC Member, Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) issued the “Petra Five Promises” guideline in early 2025, following public consultations conducted in December 2024 across six Petra communities. Developed under the Petra Tourism Development Master Plan 2023–2033, which was prepared in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and launched in November [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) launched the GSTC Attraction Standard in November 2024. GSTC designed the Early Adopter Program to facilitate the practical implementation of the GSTC Attraction Standard. The two-year program focuses on exploring mechanisms and resources for implementing the standard, rather than showcasing results. Its goal is to share best practices [...]
The world is now only five years away from 2030, a critical milestone for delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The time available to implement meaningful action is becoming critically short, with the consequences of a changing climate increasingly visible – from rising [...]
In 2022, GSTC Member Tricolage obtained the GSTC Tour Operator Certification from Control Union, a GSTC-accredited Certification Body. This achievement made Tricolage the first tour operator in Japan to receive the GSTC Tour Operator Certification. Tricolage says it approaches sustainability not as a passing trend but as a core responsibility to travelers, local communities, [...]
Key stakeholders from South Korea’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry convened at the Sustainable MICE Management Forum in Seoul on July 4 to explore challenges and opportunities in transitioning toward more sustainable practices. The forum brought together thought leaders and innovators to discuss how the MICE sector can align with global sustainability [...]
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has released its 14th annual Sustainability Report, showcasing the Group’s ongoing efforts to integrate sustainable practices across its portfolio of luxury hotels and residences worldwide. The report outlined significant progress towards environmental and social targets, underscoring the Group’s commitment to responsible business operations. The report stated that the Group reduced [...]
In July 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released the insight report “Travel and Tourism at a Turning Point: Principles for Transformative Growth”, developed in collaboration with Kearney. The report, to which GSTC CEO Randy Durband contributed, provides an in-depth analysis of the travel and tourism sector at a critical juncture in its evolution, [...]
In August 2024, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in partnership with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), announced its plans to expand the GSTC Standards, the global standards for sustainable tourism, by developing a new set specifically for tourism-related food service providers. This forthcoming set, with an official name to be determined, [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Composed of a diverse group of highly respected professionals from the tourism and travel industry, the Technical Advisory Committee will offer expert recommendations to support GSTC’s operations. Their insights will help strengthen and enrich the decision-making process [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in a roundtable event hosted by Booking.com in Madrid, Spain, on June 25, where the 10th edition of its Travel & Sustainability Report was presented by Inés de Santiago and Eguzkiñe Añón from Booking.com. Based on a global survey of over 32,000 travelers across [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination Assessments of Birgi and Side in Türkiye took place between June 23 and August 2, 2024, and were conducted by the GSTC with the participation of Cappadocia University. The assessment process, which included local stakeholder consultation, helped the destination management team identify the essential components and areas [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the Conference “Lessons from the Past: Advancing Sustainability in WWII Heritage Tourism,” held in Berlin on June 13th, 2025. The event brought together professionals from the tourism and heritage sectors to discuss how World War II-related sites can be managed in line with sustainability [...]
Equality in Tourism International released its 2025, Sun, Sand & Ceilings report. Drawing on publicly available information for 68 organisations, 28 tour operators, 16 hotels and hotel groups, 15 carriers, airlines and cruises, and nine professional associations, the charity calculated that women occupied 33 percent of board seats across global tourism, up from 23 percent [...]
Visit Tucson has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Located in southern Arizona, USA, Tucson is known for its distinctive desert landscapes and cultural diversity. Set within the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by five mountain ranges and bookended by Saguaro National Park, the city offers a combination of natural features [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) welcomes your feedback on the draft revisions of the GSTC Hotel Standard and GSTC Tour Operator Standard in this third round of public consultation, which is now open until July 3rd, 2025. The GSTC Standards (known previously as GSTC Criteria) serve as the global standards for sustainability in [...]
