Public Consultation on New Accreditation Requirements for Certification of MICE and Attraction Sectors

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 August 1, 2025 to November 10, 2025.

This marks the expansion of GSTC’s certification scopes beyond the existing three – Hotels/Accommodations, Tour Operators, and Destinations – to include MICE and Attractions.

Recognizing the growing significance of the MICE and Attractions Sectors within the tourism industry – both as drivers of economic activity and as influencers of sustainable practices – GSTC plans to introduce these new certification scopes to ensure that sustainability principles are effectively integrated into these domains as well.

These new requirements are intended for certification bodies (CBs) seeking GSTC Accreditation to certify Attractions and MICE businesses, particularly venues, event organizers, and events/exhibitions. They outline what CBs need to comply with in order to offer certification in line with the GSTC MICE Standard and/or the GSTC Attraction Standard.

While the GSTC MICE and Attraction Standards outline what sustainable practices MICE and Attractions should implement, the accreditation requirements ensure that CBs conduct credible and consistent certification activities in alignment with GSTC’s Assurance Program.

We welcome your insights and contributions to help shape the accreditation requirements to be robust, practical, and aligned with global sustainable tourism goals.