The tourism industry has the potential to be a good and powerful force on our planet. When responsibly managed, it enriches lives, and preserves natural resources and cultural heritage. More frequently these days, travelers take this into account and seek authentic holiday experiences, to choose a responsible tour operator, book a hotel with a sustainability [...]
St. Kitts and Nevis, located in the northern Leeward Islands in the West Indies, was one of the first destinations in the world to be selected as a GSTC Early Adopter, and the first in the Caribbean. St. Kitts still retains “hidden gem” status, not being a mass-market Caribbean destination. [...]
Flyer for Sierra Gorda’s Carbon Offset Program The GSTC Early Adopter destination Sierra Gorda is a biosphere reserve covering one-third of the state of Querétaro, in north-central México. The Sierra Gorda Reserve is of the most biodiversity-rich protected areas in México, and is a member of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere program. Sierra Gorda [...]
Sierra Gorda, Mexico The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) conducted its Early Adopter program from 2012 through early 2014. During the program, a diverse group of fourteen forward-thinking destinations worldwide pilot tested the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations. Each Early Adopter underwent a baseline destination sustainability assessment [...]
Tourism has been a crucial economic driver on St. Croix for many years and the island has been careful to avoid over- development that might detract from its varied natural and cultural assets. As part of the island’s strategic plan to increase visitation, St Croix has been exploring ways to [...]
Mexican coastline destination adopts criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 1st, 2014) – One of Mexico’s iconic tourism destinations, the Riviera Maya in the State of Quintana Roo, has become the first destination on the Mexican Caribbean coast to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopter Program. “At the [...]
First destination in the South Pacific Region to adopt criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (March, 2014) – Samoa is the first South Pacific destination to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopter Program and the second destination in the world to do so at the national level. Since the [...]
The Chilean destination of Lake Llanquihue has completed the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopters pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The destination joins the Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu corridor in Peru as the first South American destinations to participate in and complete the GSTC Early Adoptersprogram. The Early Adopters program [...]
The Destination Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu Peru,, known locally as the Cusco region and globally for the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and Cusco World Heritage Sites, has completed the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopters pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The Cusco region is one of Peru’s most visited [...]
First Mediterranean destination adopts baseline criteria and indicators for sustainable tourism WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 24, 2013) – South Sardinia is the first Mediterranean destination to complete the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopters Program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. The assessment was one of the [...]
As far as African safaris go, there are a few destinations that rise above the rest, famous for their abundant wildlife and magical settings. The Okavango Delta is one of those destinations. An oasis within the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango attracts lion, elephant, buffalo, magnificent bird species, and a dazzling array of other [...]
Royal Caribbean Cruises, a leader in environmental sustainability among the cruise industry, has also been a longtime supporter of the GSTC’s work. Recognized as a GSTC Patron, Royal Caribbean is today helping sponsor implementation of the new Royal Caribbean Cruises in a cruise ship port of call: St. Kitts & Nevis. Why help with [...]
St. Kitts, with Nevis in the background In a veritable sea of white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, St. Kitts & Nevis stand out from the Caribbean crowd: Their big draw for travelers is a rich cultural history. People come to see the capital’s Georgian architecture; to explore Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO [...]
Grand Teton National Park That Wyoming’s breathtaking Jackson Hole is at the forefront of sustainable travel should come as no surprise—nearby Yellowstone National Park, for which it is a gateway, was one of the country’s first conservation successes. Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge round out the valley’s triumvirate [...]
The granite peaks and spindly pine trees gamely clinging to sheer cliffs that make up the Huangshan landscape are famous to every China citizen; it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations—seeing two-and-a-half million visitors every year—and has long been a famous source of inspiration for artists and writers (indeed, it was the [...]
