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 strong sense of place.
Meet Dilijan is a community-driven initiative that brings together local businesses, cultural organizations, and creative minds to celebrate and promote Dilijan’s distinct character. The initiative is run by Green Rock Foundation.
Among the initiatives supported by the Foundation are projects that promote cultural heritage, develop tourism infrastructure, and encourage creative and educational activities in the region, aiming to strengthen Dilijan’s position as a center for culture, hospitality, and learning. The Foundation also supports initiatives that connect Dilijan with international networks and educational programs, helping the town attract new visitors, students, and entrepreneurs.
Through these projects, Green Rock Foundation’s goal is to contribute to Dilijan’s long-term development while preserving the unique character of the city.
Sustainability Commitment
Green Rock Foundation presents its “The Dilijan Promise” through three interconnected pillars: culture, sustainability, and community. In its description, culture is framed as preserving Dilijan’s soul by honoring its roots while creating space for new ideas to grow. Sustainability is described as caring for the place so that it remains beautiful for future generations, with emphasis on protecting nature, air, and the conditions that make Dilijan worth living in. Community is presented as building a place where people choose to stay because they can see a future there, with access to opportunity, purpose, and connection.
The Foundation also carries out initiatives in Dilijan, which include:
DiliDogs is a city initiative that supports safe and responsible coexistence between people and street animals in Dilijan. The project currently centers on three main components: sterilization and vaccination, education, and storytelling, combining practical animal welfare measures with awareness raising and community engagement. Its approach also highlights the role of local residents, whose care for street dogs and support for sterilization efforts contribute to more sustainable and balanced solutions over the long term.
NextGen Dilijan, a mechanism for empowering local participation, particularly among younger generations, while contributing to more inclusive and community-centered development in the city. One example is the renovation and reopening of the playground in the Shamakhyan District courtyard, supported by Green Rock Foundation and the NextGen Dilijan grant competition. The project created a renewed space for local children and families, bringing together community members, representatives from the Dilijan Municipality, and the children who will use the space every day, reflecting the initiative’s focus on practical ideas that strengthen everyday life in Dilijan.
“Joining the Global Sustainable Tourism Council is not a badge, it’s a commitment. For Meet Dilijan and Green Rock Foundation, it signals a shift from intention to accountability: building tourism that doesn’t just attract people, but respects place, preserves identity, and leaves ecosystems stronger than it found them,” says Armine Sargsyan, Head of Marketing and Communication of Green Rock Foundation.
GSTC welcomes Meet Dilijan
“We welcome Meet Dilijan, as a member of GSTC and value their commitment in supporting our mission. We wish them every success on their journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
About Green Rock Foundation – Meet Dilijan
Green Rock Foundation is an organization focused on supporting long-term development in Dilijan through initiatives connected to community, culture, and sustainability. Through projects that promote local engagement, destination development, public space improvements, animal welfare, and cultural and social participation, the Foundation works to build a stronger, more inclusive future for Dilijan. Its work reflects an approach that places equal importance on protecting the place’s character, supporting local people, and encouraging practical ideas that improve everyday life.
More information here: https://greenrock.foundation/stories-from-dilijan/#
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, the GSTC Standards, also known as the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC Destination Standard for public policy-makers and destination managers, the GSTC Hotel Standard for hotels and accommodations, the GSTC Tour Operator Standard, the GSTC MICE Standard for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and the GSTC Attraction Standard for tourist attractions such as theme parks, museums, and national parks. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Standards form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services but provides accreditation to those that do.
GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems, as well as an Association Member of The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and an Associate Member with the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
Information for media and the press: www.gstc.org/about/for-the-press/
Statements expressed in this announcement are presented for informational purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation by GSTC, unless clearly stated.
