The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) joined the Second Regional Meeting of Auditors of the Central American Integrated System for Quality and Sustainability (SICCS) in Belize from 24 – 25 March 2026. SICCS is a seal of tourism quality for MSMEs in the Central American Region.
Organized by the ‘Secretaría de Integración Turística Centroamericana’ (SITCA), the meeting brought together quality delegates from each of the ‘Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana’ (SICA) region countries, responsible for implementing the SICCS seal, along with auditors of this regional certification.
The meeting was centered around three main objectives: strengthening auditors’ competencies in auditing techniques and sustainability to ensure rigorous evaluation and follow-up of tourism quality standards; promoting best practices in certification processes to enhance efficiency, transparency, and trust in quality systems—particularly within tourism food and beverage services; and reviewing proposed updates to the SICCS guidelines to ensure they respond to the evolving quality and sustainability priorities of SICA member countries.
Jorge Moller, Program Director for Latin America & the Caribbean at the GSTC, delivered three presentations during the event. On March 24th, Mr. Moller discussed GSTC key initiatives, as well as the GSTC Standards, the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism, outlining their diverse scope across the tourism sector that can support auditors in assessing and monitoring sustainability performance.
On March 25th, Mr. Moller provided an overview of the situation in Latin America, focusing on the Yuluca Alliance (AYLAC). He underscored the importance of regional collaboration, peer learning, and knowledge exchange in advancing sustainability practices.
The day also featured a third presentation, which addressed regeneration, the importance of indicators, and practical tools for implementation, including the use of the GSTC Self-Assessment tools for Destinations. He demonstrated how these resources can help destinations and tourism stakeholders evaluate their current performance, identify areas for improvement, and support more structured and measurable progress toward sustainability goals.
‘’This gathering provided a platform for tourism delegates and auditors to engage, reaffirm their shared commitment to continuous improvement, strengthen their knowledge, and enhance alignment on sustainability priorities across the Latin American and Caribbean region,’’ explained Mr. Moller.
Overall, the second regional meeting of auditors of the Central American Integrated System for Quality and Sustainability (SICCS) served as a platform for dialogue, technical exchange, and regional coordination among SICA member countries.
