A presentation from PATA Laos and LANITH on GSTC and The GSTC Sustainable Criteria for Hotels & Tour Operators

1. Setting Standards for
Sustainable Tourism
LANITH Symposium
14 February 2014

2. What is the GSTC?
 The leading global authority for standards
for sustainable travel & tourism
 A unique organization, without
competitors

3. What is GSTC?
• An independent, non-profit, truly global organization
supported by volunteer experts and supporters of
sustainability in travel and tourism
• Supported by diverse organizations:
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The United Nations: UNWTO, UNEP, UN Foundation
Private Sector: TUI, Sabre, Royal Caribbean, many more
Trade Associations: ATTA, PATA, ASTA, ANVR
NGOs: Rainforest Alliance, Conservation Int’l, many more

4. Why GSTC?
• 1 in 2 consumers would be willing to book a more
sustainable holiday if available (TUI Travel global
research 2010)
• 2 in 3 consumers would change their behavior on
holiday to help the environment (TUI Travel global
research 2010)

5. GSTC’s Core Activities:
• Criteria for Sustainability
• “Certify the Certifiers”
• Destinations
• Education & Training
• Advocacy for sustainability in travel & tourism

6. GSTC Sustainable Criteria Overview
• There are 2 sets of Criteria:
 41 criteria for Destinations
 37 criteria for Hotels & Tour Operators
• 4 categories of criteria in each set:
 Destination Management
 Community Economic Benefit
 Community Social Benefit
 Environmental Protection

7. Certification Framework
GSTC sets standards
Certification Bodies become GSTC-Recognized
Travel Retailers get certified as “sustainable”

8. The GSTC Sustainable Criteria
for Hotels & Tour Operators

9. Demonstrate effective sustainable management
• Long-term sustainable management system
• Staff guidance and training

10. Demonstrate effective sustainable management
• Compliance with international/local legislation
• Compliance with local communal/indigenous rights

11. Demonstrate effective sustainable management
• Building (design, construction, operation, demolition)
 compliance with law and regulations
 respect natural & cultural heritage
 sustainable
 accessible

12. Demonstrate effective sustainable management
• Customer satisfaction
• Accurate promotion
• Natural & cultural heritage awareness

13. Social and economic benefits to the local community
• Community development
• Local goods and services
• Local entrepreneurship

14. Social and economic benefits to the local community
• Equal employment opportunities for
 local people/minorities
 women
• Social protection and living wage
• No exploitation, no harassment

15. Social and economic benefits to the local community
• Respectful conduct with local communities
• No restriction of local people access to
 food/water
 energy/housing
 healthcare/sanitation
 livelihood
 transport

16. Benefits to cultural heritage
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Code of behavior for visits
No illegal trade
Protection & preservation
Local art, architecture, culture

17. Benefits to the environment
• Conserving resources
 Sustainable purchasing policies
 Less disposable goods
 Energy consumption (& renewable energies)
 Water consumption

18. Benefits to the environment
• Reducing pollution
 Greenhouse gas emissions
 Wastewater
 Waste
 Harmful substances
 Other kinds of pollution
(noise, light, runoff, erosion, …)

19. Benefits to the environment
• Conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and landscapes
 Regulated consumption/trade of wildlife species
 No illegal wildlife captivity
 No introduction of invasive aliens species
 Biodiversity conservation
 Minimize disturbance
for natural ecosystems

20. Next step
- Adapt those standards to create our own sets of
criteria,
- Get recognized/approved by GSTC
- Influence stakeholders to modify their practices and
join the movment.

21. www.gstcouncil.org
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