global sustainable tourism council, kelly bricker
DESCRIPTION
A presentation made at the IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group's Strategy and Networking event at the World Parks Congress, in Sydney 2014.TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Kelly Bricker
Vice Chair, GSTC
Chair, TIES REC
THE INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM SOCIETY
Q: What and Who is the GSTC?
A: the leading global authority in
setting standards for what can be
called “sustainable” in travel &
tourism
Supporters include:
United Nations: UNWTO + UNEP
NGO’s: IUCN, Rainforest Alliance, Universities
Private Sector: TUI Travel, Sabre
Travel Trade Associations: PATA, ATTA, ASTA
Plays a unique role relating to standards
Global and Virtual
Advocacy for sustainable tourism, and for ST’s place in international conservation and development activities
GSTC’s Core Activities
Criteria (Standards) for
Sustainability– Hotels & Tour Operators
– Destinations
Created with the input of worldwide expert NGO’s,
academics, private sector, public authorities
Define sustainable tourism in a way that is
actionable, measurable and credible.
A minimum standard of sustainability for tourism
businesses and destinations across the globe.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Criteria
37 criteria for hotels & tour operators
41 criteria for destinations
all based on these 4 pillars
Social &
Economic Cultural EnvironmentalSustainability
Management
Bruno Maia/Naturezafotos.org Bruno Maia/Naturezafotos.org
GSTC Sustainability Criteria
• Worldwide applicability
• Suitable for developed and developing countries
• For large and small businesses, and for destinations
• For urban, rural, and natural areas
• Considering traditional and indigenous communities
Raise awareness of ST issues by distributing
them widely: to travel companies, public sector
tourism officials, students…on websites and in
Incorporate them into training materials; contact
us for university tourism program collaboration
Use as a checklist to improve performance
Create national, regional, or local standards
based upon them
Create subsector standards based upon them
Utilizing the Criteria Translations
GSTC’s Core Activities
• Criteria (Standards) for Sustainability
– Hotels & Tour Operators
– Destinations
• Certification: Verify Certifiers’ Programs
Destinations – Early Adopter Program
Sustainable Destination Program
• Training for Destination Management
• Destination Assessments
GSTC’s Core Activities
Training Program in multiple languages on
sustainable tourism, offered globally
How You Can Engage with GSTC
Everyone:
• Gain familiarity with the criteria and apply them
widely
• Organize GSTC Sustainable T&T Training Classes
• Certification: appreciate its value and promote its
application to destinations and travel companies
How You Can Engage with GSTC
Public Sector:
o Use our tools and services
o Work towards destination certification
Private Companies:
o Certification from a GSTC-Recognized/Approved
certification body
o Join or sponsor
NGO’s and Educators:
o Join us and participate in working groups
o Incorporate the criteria into programs
Summary…
– Sustainable Destination Management
– Training & Education
– Certification & Standards
www.gstcouncil.org
Kelly Bricker, Vice Chair
Thank you!