GSTC STANDARD
Sustainable tourism is the future, and getting globally recognized certification is easier with expert help!
At QU-ESAR Consult, we specialize in guiding your tourism business or destination through the rigorous GSTC Certification process. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) sets the highest global standards for sustainability. Why get certified?
- Gain credibility and consumer trust.
- Be present on the main booking platforms.
- Attract conscious travellers
- Protecting our planet and local communities.
WE PROVIDE COMPLETE SUPPORT:
Gap analysis and customized action plans. Implementation of sustainable management systems. Comprehensive documentation and audit support. Let us help you translate your commitment to responsible travel into internationally recognized certification.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council: Leading the Way for Responsible Tourism
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an independent, nonprofit organization at the forefront of the global movement for sustainable tourism and travel. Founded in 2007 by a coalition of partners, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the GSTC’s primary mission is to promote greater knowledge, understanding, adoption, and demand for sustainable tourism practices worldwide.
The GSTC manages the GSTC Standards (formerly known as the GSTC Criteria), which form the universal basis for sustainability in the tourism sector. These standards provide a common language and framework, helping to unravel the confusion generated by numerous disparate eco-labels and ensuring credible and transparent claims.
The Four Pillars of Sustainability
The GSTC Standards are based on four key pillars aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Sustainable Management: Emphasizing long-term planning, risk management, and continuous improvement systems for tourism organizations and destinations.
Socioeconomic impacts: Focus on maximizing benefits to the local community, creating local career opportunities, ensuring fair wages, and minimizing negative social disruption.
Cultural Impacts: Commit to protecting cultural heritage, respecting local traditions, safeguarding intellectual property rights, and providing visitors with accurate and culturally appropriate interpretive information.
Environmental impacts: Address key environmental issues such as resource conservation, waste and wastewater management, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and preventing the introduction of invasive species.
A System of Assurance and Credibility
The GSTC does not directly certify any tourism business or destination. Instead, it operates a rigorous accreditation program for independent Certification Bodies (CBs). This third-party verification process ensures that CBs are impartial, competent, and adhere to international audit standards, offering the highest level of assurance and credibility in the market. Key Initiatives and Outlook for 2025
The GSTC continues to be an agent of change through various programs:
Market Access: Collaboration with leading online travel agencies (OTAs) and large travel service providers to promote GSTC-certified businesses to a wider audience.
Training and Education: Offer a series of online and on-site courses, such as those held in Zanzibar and online in late 2025, to develop skills in sustainable tourism practices among industry professionals and government officials.
Destination Management: Assisting national and local governments in developing sustainable tourism policies and assessing destinations. Dubrovnik, for example, was named a “World’s Leading Sustainable Destination for 2025,” thanks in part to the implementation of the GSTC Destination Standard as part of the “Respect the City” initiative.
Standards Development: In 2025, the GSTC began developing new sustainability standards specifically for food service providers in the tourism sector, with a public consultation phase that ran until early 2025.
Global Conferences: the GSTC2025 global conference in Fiji served as an important platform for bringing together global and local tourism professionals to promote sustainability practices, highlighting growing international collaboration and attention to the specific challenges of island destinations.
Our company specializes in providing high-quality solutions to meet international sustainable tourism standards, helping businesses achieve certification under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standard.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: Consulting for the implementation of GSTC requirements Standards compliance audits Certification preparation Staff training and support.
- Our goal is to support your tourism business in increasing its level of sustainability, strengthening its reputation on the market and making your contribution to environmental protection significant
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