SeatradeCruiseMed was held on the 11th and 12th of September, 2024 at the Trade Fairs and Congress Center of Málaga, Spain with the support of MedCruise, The Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports. The event brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the latest trends and strategies in the Mediterranean cruise market. Dr. Ioannis [...]
In April 2024, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), in collaboration with Visit Sweden and the Agency for Growth (Tillväxtverket), held the #GSTC2024Sweden International Conference in Stockholm, focusing on “Purposeful Travel.” This event brought tourism leaders and experts together to discuss sustainable growth in the tourism sector, with a special focus on Sweden’s long-term [...]
The Independent's Climate 100 List is a prestigious recognition of the extraordinary individuals at the forefront of the global fight against climate change, showcasing unparalleled innovation, unwavering commitment, and transformative leadership that inspire a more sustainable future for all. GSTC CEO Randy Durband is present on the list and was invited to attend The [...]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was elected for a second mandate, presented to the European Parliament her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029. She appointed Apostolos Tzitzikostas as the new EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The announcement was made on September 17, 2024, marking a milestone for [...]
Keio Plaza Hotels is joining as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The Keio Plaza Hotels operates a series of luxury hotels, with its flagship location in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The chain emphasizes hospitality, offering a wide range of services, including high-end dining, meeting spaces, and cultural experiences like kimono dressings and [...]
From reducing carbon footprint to seeking more meaningful and impactful personal and societal experiences, ITB’s Transformational Travel programme highlights the importance of this conscious evolution in future-proofing travel and tourism. The program explores the technological and innovative advances revolutionizing the sector and showcases tourism boards prioritizing sustainable and responsible tourism. GSTC CEO, Randy Durband [...]
In 2022, the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and GSTC Member Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced the launch of its Hotel Sustainability Roadmap, which outlines hotels’ journey towards sustainability. Aligned with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the roadmap outlines specific goals and strategies for hotels to integrate sustainability into their operations. This allows the industry [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Setouchi Tourism Authority for their Setouchi DMO members and stakeholders, held from September 18th to 20th at Hiroshima City Peace Memorial Park, concluded successfully. A total of 25 participants attended the training in Hiroshima, Japan. GSTC Trainer Mami Futagami, Dr. Professor Emeritus at Meijo University, led the [...]
Klook has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a member. Klook is Asia’s leading platform for experiences and travel services that allows travelers to discover and book quality experiences ranging from attractions and tours to local transport and experiential stays around the world. With more than 1,800 employees across over 30 locations [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) High-Level Workshop successfully concluded on the 28th of August, 2024, in Zanzibar. The event sponsored by the European Union (EU) and done in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage of Zanzibar, brought together over 50 participants from different ministries. The workshop was officially opened by Engineer [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that TRB has gained the GSTC-Accredited Certification Body status. TRB International Certification Company offers GSTC Hotel/Accommodation Certification services within Turkiye. Established in 2004, with its headquarters in Çankaya/Ankara, TRB provides services for various industries, ensuring compliance with international standards, such as ISO certifications, focusing [...]
Mandarin Oriental New York is the 1st hotel in North America to obtain GSTC Certification by UCSL United Certification Systems Limited, a GSTC-Accredited certification body. The GSTC Certification is based on the global standard for sustainable tourism, the GSTC Hotel Criteria. “We congratulate Mandarin Oriental New York on achieving accredited certification, the highest level [...]
The Yuluca Alliance has been officially launched following the successful First GSTC Latin American and Caribbean Summit, which took place in Santa Marta, Colombia, last May 2024. This initiative, encouraged by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), is a collaborative effort of the nations that participated in the summit, united under the shared vision [...]
In April 2024, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) hosted #GSTC2024Sweden International Conference on "Purposeful Travel", in collaboration with Visit Sweden and the Agency for Growth (Tillväxtverket). To convey key insights, Visit Sweden summarized the event in six articles on “Sustainable Hospitality” (Hållbar Besöksnäring). ‘’Build a Thriving Place Through Innovation and Conscious Governance’’ (Bygg [...]
In a bid to promote sustainable tourism, the Uttar Pradesh government in India has introduced specific incentives for responsible tourism businesses under its Tourism Policy 2022-2032. Among the key benefits is a 50% reimbursement of certification fees established for tour operators for obtaining GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body. [...]
Many GSTC members and stakeholders seek GSTC’s views on Travalyst’s recent publication of their “certification”-based accommodations initiative. They appreciate that in 2016 GSTC launched the first and still-only tourism-based accreditation service for placing marks on certification bodies that provide solid evidence of competence, rigor, and impartiality. This statement is provided in response to that interest [...]
Destination Stewardship Report May - August 2024 (Volume 5, Issue 1) The Destination Stewardship Report is a collaboration between the Destination Stewardship Center, Center for Responsible Travel, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Our goal is to provide practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Hotel Sustainability Training for Industry Professionals, organized in partnership with Agoda and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), successfully concluded on the 6th of September 2024. This two-day training held in Cebu, Philippines, aimed to equip hoteliers with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement sustainable tourism [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) focused on Purposeful Travel at the #GSTC2024Sweden Global Conference held the April 2024 in Stockholm. To share key insights, Visit Sweden summarized the event in six articles on “Sustainable Hospitality” (Hållbar Besöksnäring), covering why the international conference was important for Sweden, what GSTC represents, and highlights from several [...]
Hotelga, an event for Latin America's hospitality and gastronomy industries organized by Fehgra (The Argentine Hotel and Gastronomy Business Federation), AHT (The Argentine Hotel and Tourism Association), and Messe Frankfurt Argentina, took place from August 28 to 30, 2024, at La Rural Trade Center in Buenos Aires. The event brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, and [...]
