The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Private Course sponsored and held for the Lake Mashu Tourism Association took place from 27 to 29 October 2025 in Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido, Japan. The training brought together several participants interested in enhancing their knowledge on sustainable tourism practices; The course provided a focused learning environment rooted in the local destination context.
Delivered by GSTC Trainer, Kazuhiro Arai, CEO of Daisetsuzan Experience, the course focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the GSTC Standards (formerly known as the GSTC Criteria, which serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism), and helped participants reflect on a clear and structured approach to the application of the standards, supporting them in understanding their relevance and use across different contexts within the tourism sector.
The program combined structured sessions with discussion and reflection on sustainability challenges and opportunities specific to the Lake Mashu area. As part of the training, participants visited the hotel Nuppukotte, to gain a practical understanding of how the GSTC Hotel Standard can be implemented in accommodation settings. Additional visits to Lake Mashu and the Teshikaga Town Hometown History Museum provided valuable environmental and cultural context, reinforcing the importance of place-based approaches to sustainable tourism development.
The group was introduced to the area’s social history, traditional household practices, and everyday tools through archival photographs and preserved artefacts. The visit provided contextual insight into the local community’s heritage and its relationship with the surrounding natural environment.
“Teshikaga is located in Akan-Mashu National Park and features a volcanic landscape. This is also a place of the Ainu community, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido. The community has been working on ecotourism for almost 20 years, and their efforts are now taking shape as sustainable tourism. It was a good opportunity for the participants to learn about the positive outcomes of these initiatives as well as the challenges they have faced.” Said Mr. Arai.
Participants improved their capacity to apply sustainability principles in real-world contexts, reinforcing responsible practices within the tourism sector.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding of sustainable tourism and learning how to apply the GSTC Standards in practice, upcoming GSTC Sustainable Tourism Courses are held regularly around the world and online, open to professionals from all sectors of the tourism industry. For more information about future training opportunities, kindly click here.
