Wonderful news! Our Sustainable Tourism standard has officially become recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This is an accomplishment we have been working towards for quite some time. We’re thrilled to finally be able to share the news!
Our Sustainable Tourism standard is part of the broader Sustainable Tourism 2030 initiative, which provides programs and services for destinations, tourism businesses, and accommodation providers. This initiative allows tourism businesses and accommodations to measure their sustainability performance in several key categories:
- Management
- Social
- Economic
- Natural
- Cultural
- Environmental
To become certified, businesses must receive a virtual assessment, submit evidence, and attain a minimum score.
“GreenStep takes a very systematic approach to sustainable tourism, further evidenced by taking this step to ensure that their standards used for their programs for businesses complies with the globally and inclusively managed GSTC Criteria.” Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC
What does this mean for our assessment criteria?
Firstly, it means that the standard we use to assess members has been reviewed by both the GSTC Assurance Panel and their team of technical experts. They’ve determined that our standard is equivalent to their GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. Finally, this recognition shows that our standards follow the four pillars of GSTC Criteria principles:
- Environment
- Social
- Cultural
- Management
“This is an incredible milestone for our organization, for our Sustainable Tourism certified business members, and for our destination partners. Tourism businesses can use this standard to assess their level of sustainability, develop an action plan for improvement, and achieve certification, all in alignment with internationally relevant sustainable tourism goals and objectives.” Angela Nagy, CEO of GreenStep
Currently, 11 destination standards, 34 hotel standards, and 32 tour operator standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms.
Thank you to the following organizations, industry associations, members, and the general tourism community that contributed generously to our newly recognized sustainable tourism standard!
Industry Partners:
Government Organizations:
- National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
Sustainable Tourism Members:
Members of the Canadian Tourism Community:
