The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has announced its first public consultation for the attraction criteria, marking a significant step towards establishing global standards for sustainable tourism. The consultation process aims to gather feedback and input from various stakeholders including industry professionals, government bodies, NGOs, and community representatives.
The GSTC is a non-profit organization that works towards promoting sustainable tourism practices worldwide. It develops and manages the GSTC Criteria, which are a set of globally recognized standards for sustainable tourism. These criteria cover various aspects of sustainability, including environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations.
The attraction criteria are an essential component of the GSTC Criteria, focusing specifically on the sustainable management and operations of tourist attractions. This includes natural sites, cultural heritage sites, theme parks, museums, zoos, botanical gardens, and other similar attractions.
During the public consultation, stakeholders will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed attraction criteria. The consultation process will enable a broad range of perspectives to be considered, ensuring that the final criteria are comprehensive, practical, and applicable across diverse tourism contexts.
By seeking public input, the GSTC aims to create a robust and inclusive set of standards that can effectively guide attractions towards sustainable practices. The criteria will serve as a reference point for attractions to measure their performance and progress towards sustainability.
The initiation of the public consultation reflects the GSTC’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness. It recognizes that sustainable tourism cannot be achieved in isolation but requires collaboration and shared responsibility among all stakeholders involved. By involving industry professionals, government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, the GSTC ensures that the attraction criteria are relevant, realistic, and effective in addressing the challenges faced by tourist attractions worldwide.
The consultation process will also help raise awareness about sustainable tourism among various stakeholders. It encourages dialogue and knowledge-sharing, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability in the tourism industry. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute their expertise and experiences, enriching the development of the attraction criteria.
Once the public consultation is complete, the GSTC will carefully analyze the feedback received and make necessary revisions to the attraction criteria. The revised criteria will be further reviewed and approved by the GSTC’s Standards Committee before being published as part of the GSTC Criteria.
The establishment of globally recognized standards for sustainable tourism is crucial in driving positive change in the industry. It provides a clear framework for attractions to follow, ensuring that they operate in a manner that preserves and enhances the environment, respects local cultures, and benefits local communities.
The GSTC’s first public consultation for the attraction criteria is a significant milestone towards achieving this goal. By involving stakeholders from various sectors, the consultation process will result in a comprehensive and credible set of standards that will contribute to the overall sustainability of the tourism industry.
