GSTC and Green Tourism

The increasing number of visitors and intense transportation flow can create negative impacts on the environment. At this point, implementing standards-based practices aiming to minimize these impacts is of critical importance. In line with this, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), established with the mission of promoting green tourism policies on a global scale, has a completely independent structure. The primary goal of the organization is to build an ecologically sustainable future in the tourism sector.

What is GSTC?

GSTC is a non-governmental organization that offers innovative solutions to the tourism sector and promotes social responsibility. Established with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), GSTC aims to create an eco-friendly future by promoting sustainability practices in the tourism sector.

GSTC criteria provide a foundation for certification that verifies compliance of facilities, accommodations, tour operators, and other actors operating in the tourism sector with sustainable practices. However, GSTC does not directly certify products or services; instead, it offers programs that accredit independent certification bodies that undertake this task.

What is GSTC Certification?

GSTC certification is the process by which a destination or accommodation business is subjected to independent audits in line with established standards. In this process, the quality, competency, and other performance indicators of the service area are evaluated transparently and objectively.

GSTC certification offers tourism businesses the opportunity to develop business models for a sustainable future. This process provides destinations and tourism businesses with many benefits such as ensuring sustainability credibility, building business connections, and reducing long-term environmental impacts.

GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program and Its Scope

GSTC promotes eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices. It operates with the aim of promoting the adoption of ecological practices both for tourists and local visitors as well as for businesses in the sector.

The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) aims to organize various training sessions on this matter. Within this framework, the program provides tourism employees with training programs to develop materials, tools, resources, and goals related to sustainable tourism. These training programs are aimed at hotel managers, tour operators, government officials, academic institutions, and professionals working in the tourism sector.

What Are the GSTC Criteria?

GSTC establishes standards on a global scale for sustainable travel and green tourism. GSTC Industry Criteria, GSTC MICE Criteria, and GSTC Destination Criteria form the framework for sustainability practices in the tourism sector and show full alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These criteria consist of four pillars:

• Sustainable management,

• Social impacts,

• Cultural and community impacts,

• Environmental impacts.

Industry Criteria

GSTC Industry Criteria define sustainability standards and minimum targets for tourism businesses. The goal is to protect cultural heritage, minimize environmental damage, and maximize socio-economic benefits.

Some of the missions of the established criteria are:

• To help businesses adopt the understanding of sustainable tourism and provide training opportunities in this regard.

• To form the basis for certification processes that evaluate the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of businesses and destinations.

• To guide tourists and other stakeholders in the sector regarding sustainable tourism programs.

• To contribute to market expansion and access for sustainable products.

• To ensure that certification and other voluntary programs meet accepted standards.

• To provide a starting point for government, civic society, and private sector programs to develop sustainable tourism requirements.

• To serve as a basic guideline for academic institutions such as hotel schools and universities.

• To show leadership that will encourage other businesses and tourism sector workers to take action.

GSTC criteria adopt the mission of presenting what needs to be done in the tourism sector and how practices should be. The obligation in question is supported and implemented through the performance indicators and training programs of the GSTC criteria.

Destination Criteria

GSTC Destination Criteria (GSTC-D) are based on multi-year studies, analyses, and practices. The regulations consider various standards, legislation, and understandings from different countries. The process of creating and developing regulations and practices reflects certification standards, legislation, policies, and practices in different geographies of the world.

Some of the expected uses of destination criteria by tourism management organizations can be listed as follows:

• To offer a roadmap to destinations in line with sustainability targets.

• To provide information to visitors about organizations that adopt sustainable tourism.

• To inform the media and the public about sustainable destinations.

• To develop a common standard for certification and voluntary programs.

• To offer a starting point for the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and government to develop sustainable tourism requirements.

• To create a basic educational framework for school programs related to tourism, especially university tourism departments.

MICE Criteria

GSTC MICE Criteria define sustainability standards for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector, such as venues, event organizers, and exhibition areas. The goal is to develop a sustainable approach in the sector and offer actionable solutions.

Some uses of the criteria in question are:

• To provide guidance to sustainable MICE businesses.

• To raise awareness about sustainability to ensure individuals, communities, and businesses become conscious.

• To contribute to clients identifying and selecting sustainable MICE businesses.

• To offer a starting point for both the public and private sectors to develop sustainable MICE business requirements.

• To be a common system for sustainable MICE businesses to be recognized by the media and the public.

• To provide guidelines and standard legislative frameworks under education on sustainable MICE by universities, hotel schools, or associations.

Importance of GSTC's Criteria and Efforts

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an authority working to ensure the success of sustainable tourism practices and to raise awareness in this field. GSTC’s criteria and activities form the foundation of sustainability efforts in both the public and private sectors.

GSTC’s mission is to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices, build awareness among tourism professionals, consumers, and the public, and provide guidance in this direction.

Impacts and Benefits of GSTC

We can summarize the impacts of GSTC on the tourism sector and the benefits it provides as follows:

Sustainability Guidance:

It contributes to the adoption of eco-friendly approaches in the sector by guiding tourism businesses on sustainability and environmental management.

Training and Program Guidance:

It guides suppliers, tourism professionals, and other stakeholders in selecting sustainable tourism programs and training sessions.

Providing Recognition:

It increases the appeal of sustainable tourism destinations by promoting their recognition in the eyes of the media and the public.

Standard Setting:

It creates a general reference point for certification programs and voluntary training sessions, thereby increasing quality and trust in the tourism sector.

Providing an Intersectoral Foundation:

It offers a starting point for sustainable tourism practices for both public and private sector organizations.

Developing an Educational Framework:

It contributes to raising the awareness of future generations by creating educational frameworks for related university departments and private tourism schools.

Leadership and Motivation:

It provides motivation to leading providers and pioneers in the tourism sector and helps them adopt the concept of sustainability.

Establishing Information Platforms:

It supports sustainability efforts on a global scale by facilitating information sharing in different languages and geographies.

Comprehensive Training Programs:

In 2022, GSTC expanded sustainability awareness by training 1,425 participants through online courses across 62 different regions. The programs offered continue to reach a wide audience, covering both sessions paid by participants and group meetings sponsored by the organization.

National Sustainable Tourism Program Conducted in Turkey with GSTC

Turkey has developed a standard called Turkey Sustainable Tourism Industry Criteria (TR-I) in order to ensure sustainability in the tourism sector and align international standards with its own cultural and social fabric. These criteria were introduced under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

Features of TR-I and Alignment with GSTC

The TR-I criteria have been prepared in accordance with the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and are renewed every 3-5 years depending on GSTC's update cycle. TR-I contributes to positioning Turkey as a strong destination in both national and international tourism markets.

As part of this process, TGA aims to promote Turkey as a destination aligned with sustainable tourism regulations where cultural heritage is preserved, and to continuously improve service quality.

Uses and Impacts of TR-I

The benefits provided by the TR-I criteria for the Turkish tourism sector and its stakeholders can be listed as follows:

• Establishing a Certification Foundation: It forms the basis of sustainability certification for the tourism sector across Turkey.

• Providing Guidance to Businesses: It serves as a sustainable tourism guide for small, medium, and large-scale businesses.

• Raising Awareness: It aims to build sustainability awareness in Turkish society, among visitors, investors, and tourism sector professionals.

• Promotion and Marketing: It offers an effective framework to promote sustainable tourism providers and guides marketing strategies.

• Meeting International Obligations: TR-I contributes to Turkey fulfilling its international sustainability commitments, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Green Deal.

Intersectoral Cooperation:

It builds a consensus ground for sustainability by supporting cooperation between the government, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.

Providing Training and Guidelines:

It creates a standard sustainable tourism training guideline for university tourism departments and tourism schools.

Demonstrating Leadership:

It offers a model to the sector and investors that encourages sustainability practices.

Increasing Turkey's Competitiveness:

The TR-I criteria support Turkey in increasing its competitiveness in sustainable products in the global tourism market. Within this framework, it:

• Guides tourism agencies in selecting sustainable businesses.

• Creates a strategic infrastructure to access various markets.

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