The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the International MICE Summit (IMS) held in Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 15 to 17, 2024. The Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA) hosted the event. With a three-day interactive program that featured plenary sessions, panel [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is proud to announce the launch of its new training program tailored specifically for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. This milestone follows the publication of the GSTC MICE Criteria last year, marking a significant step in promoting sustainable practices across events globally. The new GSTC [...]
Portrait Milano is the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the globally recognized standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. Portrait Milano becomes the 1st Hotel in Milano, Italy to obtain GSTC Certification by Dream&Charme, a GSTC-Accredited certification [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in partnership with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), announced in August its plans to expand the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable tourism, by developing a new set specifically for tourism-related food service providers. These forthcoming criteria, with an official name to be determined, [...]
2025 Eligibility for GSTC-Recognized Standards and Required Accreditation The GSTC Standards represent the global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. Certification is a crucial aspect of implementing these standards, involving third-party assessments to ensure compliance with the standards. While the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) does not conduct certifications directly, it accredits Certification Bodies that [...]
At GSTC we work with partners to measure and offset the carbon emissions associated with our conferences. The GSTC2023 Global Conference, held in Antalya, Türkiye, brought together 350 tourism professionals from 51 countries, providing a valuable platform for advancing sustainable tourism practices while adhering to our environmental responsibility. The carbon footprint refers to the [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Amakusa Sustainable Tourism Council, held from December 17th to 19th, 2024, concluded successfully. It took place at a historical site of an early educational center in Amakusa City, Kumamoto, Japan, characterized by numerous museums and World Heritage churches across the islands. A [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is thrilled to celebrate the addition of numerous new members in 2024, all of whom are committed to advancing sustainability in their respective tourism activities. Find below a comprehensive summary of our 2024 new destination and large industry members, and click on the link for further details about [...]
The 2023 Responsible Business Report from Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) showcases the company’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible tourism. RHG has been a GSTC Member since 2022, and this comprehensive report outlines RHG’s progress and strategic objectives as it strives to meet its net zero goal by 2050 while delivering sustainable hospitality experiences. [...]
Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s leading travel platform and a Platinum Sponsor of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has been supporting sustainable tourism by sponsoring GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Programs since 2022. Through this collaboration, Traveloka has helped empower tourism stakeholders across the region with comprehensive education on the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for [...]
To encourage accommodation providers, including tourist hotels, regular hotels, and B&B providers, to enhance service quality, implement accessible and inclusive facilities, adopt sustainable environmental management systems, and offer smart service spaces, Taiwan Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has introduced the "Guidelines for Subsidies to Enhance the Quality of Accommodation Services". [...]
GSTC Accessible & Inclusive Travel Online Course Dates: December 15 - 19, 2025 Live Session Schedule: December 16th and December 18th (120 mins/session) – from 9am CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) / 4pm Singapore / 5pm Seoul / 7pm Sydney Where: Online Language: English We highly recommend attending the live, virtual sessions. However, the sessions will [...]
GSTC Accessible & Inclusive Travel Online Course Dates: April 14 - 18, 2025 Live Session Schedule: April 15th and April 17th (120 mins/session) - from 9am CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) / CEST (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2) Where: Online Language: English We highly recommend attending the live, virtual sessions. However, the sessions will be recorded [...]
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has announced that all six of its Australian properties have gained accredited certification, after getting all their properties in Singapore also certified. These six properties are the first in the Oceania region to attain this global certification. PPHG is the wholly-owned hotel subsidiary of UOL Group Limited (UOL), one [...]
The first GSTC Latin American and Caribbean Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, served as a platform for promoting and sharing sustainable tourism practices. After the event, Tayrona’s National Park (PNN Tayrona) contributed with an area of plantation to the restoration of tropical dry forests, one of the most endangered ecosystems in Colombia. These forests [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2024 Ulsan Ecotourism Forum, held on the 3rd of December, 2024, at the Tannibay Hotel in Ulsan, South Korea. With over 170 participants, the forum provided a dynamic platform to discuss the city’s transformation through technological innovation, cultural integration and sustainability. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, [...]
Traveloka sponsored the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training held in the Potique Hotel in Nah Trang, Vietnam, December 12-13, 2024. The two-day training was led by GSTC Trainer, Trang Nguyen who shared his expertise with practical examples and insights. Attendees had the chance to listen to esteemed guest speakers: Ms. Ha Thi Dieu Vien, Deputy [...]
On December 6, 2024, the Opera & Ballet Theatre in Tirana became a hub of dialogue and collaboration during the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania. This landmark event organized by The Ministry of Tourism and Environment in cooperation with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported project, RisiAlbania, implemented by [...]
The fourth annual Destination Stewardship Yearbook is a compilation of articles from the 2023–2024 Destination Stewardship Report (DSR), co-produced by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), and Destination Stewardship Center (DSC). In each issue, the DSR features destinations that have embraced effective and holistic management, best practices in sustainable [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2024 China Hotel and Catering Industry Brand Development Conference, where its CEO, Randy Durband, delivered a keynote speech. The event, held on November 27 in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, served as a platform for industry leaders and policymakers to discuss innovation, sustainability, and brand excellence [...]
