On June 9, 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) proudly joins the global celebration of World Accreditation Day (WAD), an initiative by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This year’s theme, “Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)”, shines a spotlight on the essential role accreditation plays in enabling SMEs to thrive in competitive markets while contributing to sustainable development goals.
In the tourism sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital; however, these businesses often face financial barriers in accessing sustainability certification. Recognizing this, GSTC recently launched the Roundtable for Micro and Small Enterprises Certification (R4MSEC), a new initiative designed to explore and propose activities that contribute to the correct interpretation of GSTC Standards and their appropriate implementation based on the scale of MSE’s operations.
GSTC became an official Association Member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in November 2024. The IAF is a global association of accreditation bodies and other entities interested in conformity assessment across management systems, products, processes, services, personnel, validation, verification, and similar conformity assessment programs. Association Membership is for organizations involved in the use or implementation of certification/registration systems.
The GSTC is also an Associate Member of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC). The Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) is a regional association of accreditation bodies and other organizations interested in conformity assessment in the Americas.
Businesses and destinations certified by a GSTC-accredited certification body, meeting the full relevant GSTC Standard (or a GSTC-Recognized Standard), have the highest level of assurance* and credibility available. With an accredited certification, customers and buyers are assured that the business or destination was certified in a credibly verified procedure in a transparent, impartial, and competent manner.
Certification by an accredited certification body can be referred to as “accredited certification.”
The GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Industry Hotel/ Accommodation & Tour Operator provides detailed technical requirements for certification of Hotel/Accommodation and Tour Operator. Certification bodies are required to comply with ISO 17065 (Conformity Assessment -Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services) and GSTC specific requirements. These requirements are impartial and competent certification procedures, auditor experience and qualifications, certification decision-making, rigorous surveillance of certified businesses, and proper promotion of their services.
Hotels that follow sustainability standards and wish to stand out with a reputable certification as a sustainable hotel should seek sustainable hotel certification by a GSTC-accredited certification body.
Tour Operators that want to demonstrate their adherence to sustainability standards are encouraged to seek sustainable tour operator certification by a GSTC-accredited certification body.
Destinations that are managed in accordance with sustainability standards can aim for destination certification by one of the GSTC-accredited certification bodies. Certification bodies certifying destinations must follow the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Destination.)
As World Accreditation Day 2025 brings attention to the value of accreditation for small and medium enterprises, GSTC emphasizes the importance of accredited certification in the tourism sector.
*Note of General assurance levels:
3rd-party certification by an Accredited Certification Body (impartiality is certain)
3rd-party verification (impartiality is not certain)
2nd-party verification (not impartial)
1st-party self-assessment
No verification at all
