Global Sustainable Tourism Council

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC Council) is a multi-stakeholder global tourism organization. Born as a strategic coalition of partners under the umbrella of the UN, the GSTC brings together businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations, academia, individuals and communities engaged in, and striving to achieve sustainable tourism. Established as a membership council, the GSTC serves as the international body for promoting the increased knowledge, understanding and adoption of sustainable tourism practices. The GSTC fosters sustainable tourism through the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles; compiling, adapting and creating the tools and training to engage in sustainable tourism practices; and increasing the demand for sustainable tourism products and services. At the core of its work are the GSTC Criteria.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria are a set of global guiding principles. They represent the minimum requirements that any tourism business should reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation. As a minimum baseline, and not a maximum, the GSTC Criteria should be adapted and expanded to the specific conditions of each region of the world and each industry sector, as the key issues for sustainability will have different emphasis under differing conditions. The GSTC Criteria also form the foundation of the GSTC Process that is comprised of the GSTC-Recognized, GSTC-Approved and GSTC-Accredited programs.

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