The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the revision process for the GSTC Industry Standard for Hotels and Tour Operators, version 3. As a result, the previous single standard (GSTC Industry Standard), which included two sets of suggested performance indicators for hotels and tour operators, has now [...]
In December 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) signed a Training Partnership Agreement with the Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Council (ISTC), marking a new step forward in expanding access to sustainability training across Indonesia. ISTC, a quasi-governmental institution established by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, leads national efforts to advance sustainable tourism through policy coordination, [...]
- The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 2025 Chungcheongnam-do Sustainable Tourism Forum, held on the 17th of December 2025 in Gongju, Republic of Korea. The forum, organized by the Chungcheongnam-do Social Economy Support Center and The Korea Sustainable Tourism Network convened representatives from public institutions, tourism organisations, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders [...]
The 4th GSTC Academic Symposium will be held in Phuket, Thailand, on April 21st, just before the 2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference. This one-day in-person symposium convenes researchers, academics, and practitioners to engage in diverse dialogues on sustainability in tourism, following the same established methodology that has guided previous editions. The program brings together academic [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is announcing the launch of its very first training course dedicated to the tourism attractions industry: the GSTC Sustainable Attraction Online Course. The course will help businesses and organizations understand how to integrate sustainability into the development, management, and daily operations of tourist attractions. This inaugural course marks [...]
The international conference “Smart and Sustainable Tourism: Impacts, Approaches and Solutions” took place on 5 December 2025 at the IUAV University of Venice. The event was organised within the framework of the Interreg Italy–Croatia Program, co-funded by the European Union, and developed under the ADRIJO ROUTES project. The conference brought [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the CETT Tourism Policy Dialogue, held on 3 December 2025 at the Hotel Universitari Alimara in Barcelona; a one-day event focused on climate change and its impact on tourism. The dialogue brought together national and international experts for a program that included keynote presentations, case studies, [...]
GSTC participated in the ‘Forum on Sustainability & Social Responsibility in Tourism’, held on 25–26 November 2025 in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The forum brought together public authorities, tourism businesses, destinations, and international experts to address key challenges and opportunities related to sustainable and responsible tourism development in Latin America, with a strong focus [...]
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course was delivered in a private training session sponsored by the Hyuga and East Usuki Wide-Area Tourism Promotion Council for its employees and stakeholders, reinforcing the region’s commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism development. The training took place in Misato Town, adjacent to Hyuga City, Miyazaki, Japan, from 10 to [...]
As part of the visit of Jorge Moller, Program Director for Latin America & Caribbean of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainability Week took place in Quintana Roo, Cancun. The agenda brought together university students, public authorities, academia, and the business sector around a shared goal: to reflect on [...]
Somerset Palace Seoul hotel, an affiliate of Shinyoung Group (Korea’s first-generation real estate developer) and operated by GSTC-Commited Member, The Ascott Limited, has become the first in the domestic hotel industry to obtain the GSTC Certification by Control Union, a GSTC-accredited Certification Body, in Korea. Somerset Palace Seoul held an official ‘GSTC Hotel Certificate [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation (BMoTIA), a GSTC Member, celebrate the formation of the new Destination Stewardship Councils (DSCs) on the islands of Inagua and Andros (North Andros District) in October 2025. With the inclusion of the two latest Councils, The BMOTIA has successfully [...]
- The GSTC participated in the 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event, organised by the Sanya Tourism Board and supported by PATA. Held in Sanya, Hainan, China from the 18th to the 21st of November, under the theme “Coastal Tourism: Symbiosis and Development of Nature and Culture,” the event aimed to convene global tourism [...]
- Dr. Mihee Kang, GSTC Chief Assurance Officer, participated in the high-level Regional Workshop on Promoting Green and Sustainable Tourism, held from 24–26 November 2025 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. National and international guest speakers, private-sector representatives, development partners, national and international organizations, and approximately 250 participants from across the region also attended the ceremony, [...]
- The European Commission announced the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, celebrating destinations leading in accessibility, sustainability, digitalization, and cultural heritage. Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Tampere (Finland) were selected as the winners of the EU’s 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions, following a European Jury meeting held [...]
GSTC Member, Lanzarote hosted a full-day programme at Jameos del Agua on the 28th of November, bringing together government representatives, international organizations, and tourism professionals to reaffirm the relevance of the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30 within the framework of its ‘World Conference on Sustainable Tourism’, organized by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, with [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) congratulates Centara Hotels & Resorts for achieving full certification across all 42 of its properties worldwide. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Centara’s sustainability journey, demonstrating its commitment to responsible hospitality. Centara first aligned its internal sustainability framework, Centara EarthCare, with the GSTC Hotel Standard, the global [...]
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has officially opened registration for the GSTC2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, which will take place at Royal Phuket City Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town in Phuket, Thailand, from the 21st to the 24th of April, 2026. The Conference aims to bring together global leaders, industry professionals, [...]
OverviewThe Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is seeking a highly organized events coordinator with a passion for sustainability. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of the sustainable tourism industry promoting positive change worldwide. The Events Coordinator supports global activities, playing a pivotal role in preparing and executing the annual GSTC Conference (GSTC Conference [...]
GSTC participated in the 3rd Thailand-Singapore Cruise Development Taskforce Meeting in Singapore, hosted by GSTC Member Singapore Tourism Board, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and advance sustainability within the cruise sector. The meeting brought representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and various government agencies to meet [...]
