The fifth edition of the Sustainable Tourism Forum, organized by the Consorzio il Tarvisiano in collaboration with the GSTC Italy Working Group, concluded successfully in Tarvisio, with more than 80 participants. The agenda featured several international speakers from Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, embodying the cross-border nature of the Tarvisiano destination. The event was celebrated at the Auditorium Julius Kugy, on the 27th of September, 2025, coinciding with World Tourism Day.
The forum opened with institutional greetings, followed by a keynote session on the mission and vision of GSTC worldwide and in Italy, presented by Luigi Cabrini, Chair of GSTC, and Stefano Ravelli, Chair of the GSTC Italy Working Group and GSTC Board Member. Their interventions set the tone for an inspiring day that underscored the growing importance of sustainability as a driver of destination development.
“The successful conclusion of the Sustainable Tourism Forum in Tarvisio underscores the remarkable progress Italy has made in embracing sustainability within the tourism system. The GSTC Italy Working Group has been at the forefront of this transformation, uniting local authorities, businesses, and communities in a shared vision of responsible tourism,” said Luigi Cabrini.
Speakers from different regions, including cross-border biosphere reserves, national parks, and local authorities, offered diverse perspectives on shared challenges and opportunities. These sessions highlighted how the GSTC Standards can serve as a unifying framework to foster collaboration, protect natural resources, and promote responsible tourism governance.
In the afternoon, participants joined parallel workshops focusing on three essential themes: social inclusion and community well-being, models for harmonizing tourism with environmental protection, and certification as a tool for shared governance. The event concluded with final greetings, an aperitif, and a networking dinner at Hotel Edelhof. On Sunday, attendees were invited to explore the local area through a guided hike in the “NaTUra” Forest or a visit to the Cave del Predil mine, offering a practical immersion in sustainable tourism experiences.
“As Chair of the GSTC Italy Working Group, I am incredibly proud of how our network has come together to drive meaningful change. This forum has once again shown the power of collaboration, and the GSTC Italy Working Group remains committed to supporting destinations and businesses across Italy in their journey towards more responsible and sustainable practices. We thank Consorzio il Tarvisiano and especially Claudia Gioitti for the amazing collaboration in the organization of the Forum,” said Stefano Ravelli.
Before the Forum, an in-person GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course was held in the Hotel Nevada in Tarvisio, in collaboration with Etifor and organized by the GSTC Italy Working Group, on September 25th and 26th. Participants had the chance to improve their sustainability skills while learning alongside fellow sustainable tourism practitioners. The GSTC Italy Working Group organized the course in collaboration with GSTC.
The training, led by Federica Bosco, Sustainable Tourism Manager at Etifor and GSTC Official Trainer, offered expert guidance and practical insights to help tourism destinations and businesses in their sustainability journey.
“The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course in Tarvisio was an incredible opportunity to engage with passionate professionals dedicated to advancing sustainability in tourism. As a trainer, I am thrilled to see how participants are embracing the tools and knowledge to drive real change in their destinations and businesses,” says Federica Bosco.
The GSTC Italy Working Group is a network of Italian organizations that implement and promote international sustainability standards for tourism defined by GSTC. The group consists of: Chair, Stefano Ravelli, ApT Valsugana e Lagorai (Chair), and GSTC Board Member, Vice-Chair, Federica Bosco, ETIFOR Valuing Nature (Vice-Chair), Carlo Runggaldier, Coop. Turistica San Vigilio/San Martin, Dolomites, Stefania Zanuso, Ways Srl SB, Virtou, Paola Fagioli, Legambiente nazionale APS, Robert Kropfitsch, Territori Sostenibili.
More information on GSTC’s Italy WG can be found here.
