global sustainable tourism council (gstc) criteria

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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for any tourism business but with specific performance indicators for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to 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.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but it accredits those that do.

The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership , including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

Find out more about GSTC at -  https://www.gstcouncil.org/

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Global Sustainable Tourism Council GSTC Industry Criteria, with suggested performance indicators for tour operators

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Intended Audience

The entire tourism industry

• Global Sustainable Tourism Council

“The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria were created to provide a common understanding throughout the world of “sustainable tourism”, and are the minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach. They are organized around four main themes: effective sustainability planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage, and reducing negative impacts to the environment. They have applicability to the entire tourism industry…

Some of the uses of the criteria include the following:

• Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability.

• Serve as basic guidelines for businesses of all sizes to become more sustainable, and help businesses choose sustainable tourism programmes that fulfill these global criteria.

• Provide greater market access in the growing market for sustainable products, serving as guidance both for travellers and for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and sustainable tourism programmes.

• Help consumers identify sound sustainable tourism programmes and businesses.

• Serve as a common denominator for information media to recognize sustainable tourism providers.

• Help certification and other voluntary programmes ensure that their standards meet a broadly-accepted baseline.

• Offer governmental, non-governmental, and private sector programmes a starting point for developing sustainable tourism requirements.

• Serve as basic guidelines for education and training bodies, such as hotel schools and universities.

• Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act” (pp.1-2).

Avaiable in

• Malay Bahasa

SDGs LINKAGES

The focus of the resource is SDG 8.9 (promote beneficial and sustainable tourism). That has a wide range of positive benefits that support other SDGs and targets.

Section A supports SDGs and targets relating to governance, ownership and compliance, and including SDGs 1.4, 4.7, 10.2, 11, 12, 16 and 17.

Section B supports SDGs relating to sustainable communities (11), employment and procurement (SDGs 8 and 12), avoidance of exploitation (SDGs 5 and 16), equal opportunity (SDG 10.2 and 10.3), and community services (SDG 9.1).

Section C supports SDGs 11.4, 1.4, 10.2 and 11.7.

Section D supports a wide range of SDGs and targets, including 6, 11.4, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

Sdg 1.1: eradicate extreme poverty, our collections matter indicators:.

• Number of educational programmes that explore poverty as a multidimensional and complex issue, and that empower people to act to address extreme poverty.
• Number of educational programmes that are targeted towards people living in extreme poverty.
• Proactive steps taken to ensure that all people, including those living in extreme poverty, can access services.
• Promotion of poverty-reducing programmes, locally and worldwide, focussed on those in extreme poverty.
• Proactive support for economically disadvantaged and marginalized people in supply chains.
• Pro-poor decisions incorporated into all forms of operations, including financial decisions.
• Transparency in reporting on the supply chain, incorporating actions to address extreme poverty locally and worldwide.

SDG 1.2: Reduce Poverty by at least 50%

• Number of programmes drawing on collections (educational, awareness-raising, research, partnerships) that explore poverty as a multidimensional and complex issue, and that empower people to act to address poverty in all its forms.
• Number of educational programmes that are targeted towards people living in poverty.
• Proactive steps taken to ensure that all people, including those living in poverty, can access services.
• Collections development to support such programmes.
• Promotion of poverty-reducing programmes, locally and worldwide.
• Transparency in reporting on the supply chain, incorporating actions to address poverty locally and worldwide.

SDG 1.4: Equal Rights to Ownership, Basic Services, Technology and Economic Resources

• Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
• Numbers of people accessing collections.
• Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
• Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
• Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.

SDG 1.5: Build Resilience to Environmental, Economic and Social Disasters

• Number of collecting programmes that aim to build resilience to climate-related events and other shocks and disasters, for example by forming collections that can contribute to related educational and research programmes.
• Number of educational programmes drawing on collections that incorporate resilience perspectives.
• Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at vulnerable groups, to build their resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
• Number of research programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at building resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
• Strengthen the resilience of employees, communities and suppliers by paying at a minimum the living wage and offering insurance to employees and their families, such as accident insurance; and by paying fair prices to all suppliers.

SDG 1.B: Create Pro-Poor and Gender-Sensitive Policy Frameworks

• Number of policies and policy frameworks that support targeted, accelerated investment to eradicate poverty.

SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success

• Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
• Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
• Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
• Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.

SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship

• Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
• Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
• Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
• Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.

SDG 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools

• Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
• Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
• Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
• Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.

SDG 5.1: End Discrimination Against Women and Girls

• Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of sex or gender.
• Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of sex or gender.
• Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
• Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
• Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
• Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with people of different sex and gender.

SDG 5.2: End All Violence Agains and Exploitation of Women and Girls

• Collections development, to ensure collections can be used as a basis for programmes that aim to raise awareness of, and reduce, all forms of violence against women and girls.
• Number of educational, awareness-raising and partnership programmes drawing on collections that aim to reduce, prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

SDG 5.5: Ensure Full Participation in Leadership and Decision-Making

• Number and proportion of women included in programmes, partnerships and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions at: i. foundation/entry levels ii. intermediate levels iii. senior levels, including management, leadership and decision-making.

SDG 5.C: Adopt and Strengthen Policies and Enforceable Legislation for Gender Equality

• Number and proportion of policies relating to collections and collections-based institutions that incorporate gender perspectives to promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

SDG 6.3: Improve Water Quality, Wastewater Treatment and Safe Reuse

• Amount of pollutants, and reduction in pollutants, to water systems.
• Plans in place for the identification, reduction, replacement and recycling of hazardous chemical and materials, to prevent their release into water systems, with plans to eliminate their use as soon as possible.

SDG 6.4: Increase Water-Use Efficiency and Ensure Freshwater Supplies

• Reductions in water use, increase in water recycling, preventing water shortages in vicinity.
• Information on, programmes relating to, and partnerships relating to water use drawing on collections and collections-based institutions in place, to support efficient use of water.

SDG 6.6: Protect and Restore Water-Related Ecosystems

• Proportion of water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes in a good ecological condition.
• Information on, programmes relating to, and partnerships relating to water-related ecosystems drawing on collections and collections-based institutions in place, to support protection of these as effective nature-based solutions and ecosystem services.

SDG 6.B: Support Local Engagement in Water and Sanitation Management

• Collections development to support sustainable water management and sanitation for all.
• Number of programmes for local communities directed towards water quality improvement and sanitation management.

SDG 7.2: Increase Global Percentage of Renewable Energy

• Proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources.
• Date to achieve net zero, and milestones towards that date.

SDG 7.3: Double the Improvement in Energy Efficiency

• Reduction in energy use.
• Upgrade of old equipment to more efficient equipment.
• Uptake of renewable sources of energy.

SDG 8.1: Sustainable Economic Growth

• Economic value added to the local economy.
• Number of jobs created, notably for marginalized and under-represented groups.

SDG 8.2: Diversify, Innovate and Upgrade for Economic Productivity

• Number of innovation-driven projects that aim to enhance or add to the range of activities drawing on collections.
• Staff training initiatives aimed at innovation, skills for enterprise.
• Number of public-facing activities that make use of new or emerging technologies, involving collections.

SDG 8.3: Promote Policies to Support Job Creation and Growing Enterprises

• Development-oriented policies in place for the range of activities, or development-oriented considerations are included in other policies.
• Number of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises supported.
• Number and proportion of formalised arrangements with micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• Total value of financial services or financial support provided to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises.

SDG 8.4: Improve Resource Efficiency in Consumption and Production

• Plans in place to increase resource efficiency, reduce consumption, and to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.

SDG 8.5: Full Employment and Decent Work with Equal Pay

• Increase in number of people in full and productive employment relating to collections, through job creation and recruitment.
• Increase in proportion of existing staff working with collections in productive employment.
• Increase in number of men, women, young people and persons with disabilities in development and training programmes drawing on collections that support them in employment.
• Removal of pay disparities by gender and/or other status for those working with collections.
• Policies and plans in place to ensure that all suppliers and others in the supply chain are in decent and productive work.

SDG 8.7: End Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Child Labour

• Policies and plans in place to ensure that forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour are completely eliminated from throughout the supply chain.
• Number of collections development, educational and awareness-raising, and research programmes and partnerships aimed at eradicating forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.

SDG 8.8: Protect Labour Rights and Promote Safe Working Environments

• Number and proportions of staff working with collections in safe and secure working environments.
• Number of accidents and other health and safety incidents reported.
• Training and support provided for staff to ensure their wellbeing, health and safety.
• Education, awareness-raising and partnership programmes drawing on collections that address labour rights, notably those of migrant workers and others in precarious employment.
• Reduction of numbers and proportions of staff on short-term or zero-hours contracts.
• Fair pay policies and procedures in place to prevent exploitation.
• Procurement policies that ensure that collecting institutions make use of people who are in decent employment, and that avoid exploitation throughout the supply chain.

SDG 8.9: Promote Beneficial and Sustainable Tourism

• Numbers of jobs created or supported that relate to sustainable tourism drawing on local products (e.g. craft producers).
• Develop and implement plans to reduce and remove negative impacts of tourism.
• Numbers of activities and/or products drawing on local culture.
• Value to artisans and source communities of activities and products drawing on local culture.

SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures

• Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
• Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
• Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
• Investment in collections facilities.
• Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.

SDG 9.2: Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization

• Number of products and services developed, either alone or in partnership, that contribute to the green economy in some way.
• Number of jobs created, and working hours spent, that contribute to the green economy.
• Number of partnerships that produce products and services that add value to the economy, and that have positive social and environmental impacts.

SDG 9.4: Upgrade All Industries and Infrastructures for Sustainability

• Number and proportion of collections facilities that make efficient use of resources, with an ongoing drive for efficiencies and reductions in energy use and waste of all forms.
• Number and proportion of collections facilities that use clean and environmentally sound technologies, including climate-friendly energy sources and materials, with an ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.
• Number and proportion of collections facilities that adopt and/or prioritise collections-related processes and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.

SDG 10.1: Reduce Income Inequalities

• Policies in place for fair pay in line with national recommendations.
• Policies in place to ensure equal pay for equal value.
• Policies in place, and reporting mechanisms in place, to ensure transparent information on inequality within organisations, and to address inequality in income.
• Policies in place to actively support markets and market access for low-income groups and populations, at any point in the value chain.
• Targeted programmes to support those on lowest incomes, and zero income.

SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion

• Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
• Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
• Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
• Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
• Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.

SDG 10.3: Ensure Equal Opportunities and End Discrimination

• Identification of discriminatory policies and practices, with clear plans to address these, to ensure equal opportunity for all and reduce inequalities of outcome.
• Collections development to uphold and promote legislation and anti-discriminatory perspectives, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
• Education and participatory programmes that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
• Research that supports anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
• Participation in partnerships that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.

SDG 10.4: Adopt Fiscal and Social Policies that Promotes Equality

• Number and proportion of policies that proactively address equality issues relating to fiscal, wage and social protection considerations.

SDG 11.3: Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization

• Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically.
• Plans in place for collections-based institutions to facilitate the incorporation of communities’ views into local planning and town management processes in a regular way.
• Plans in place for collections-based institutions to facilitate the incorporation of minorities’ views into local planning and town management processes in a regular way.

SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage

• Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
• Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
• Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
• Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
• Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.

SDG 11.6: Reduce the Environmental Impact of Cities

• Plans in place to reduce negative impacts on air quality, and volume and forms of waste.
• Plans in place to eliminate waste of all forms as soon as possible.

SDG 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces

• Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
• Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
• Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
• Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.

SDG 11.A: Strong Nation and Regional Development Planning

• Considerations of regional economic, social and environmental trends and risks incorporated into collecting institutions’ planning.
• Participation in local and regional planning, to foster access to services, cultural participation, prevent exclusion, and support equitable urbanisation.
• Ensure data collection and metrics can be useful for planning in conjunction with other sectors and between urban and rural areas.
• Number of outreach and other activities that promote awareness and accessibility of collecting institutions in urban and rural areas, and that promote awareness of regional development plans and risks, with opportunities for people and communities to input into such plans.

SDG 11.B: Implement Policies for Inclusion, Resource Efficiency and Disaster Risk Reduction

• Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030a.
• Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and plans in place, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, to ensure collecting institutions and collections are factored into planning, and contribute effectively to Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Collections-based institutions included in local plans for social inclusion, resource use, and Disaster Risk Reduction.

SDG 12.2: Sustainable Management and Use of Natural Resources

• Reduction of material footprint in terms of reductions in consumption of biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores and non-metal ores.

SDG 12.3: Halve Global Capita Food Waste

• Quantities, and reduction in quantities, of food waste, both in terms of waste going for treatment, and waste going to landfill or being otherwise discarded into the environment.
• Policies and plans in place to reduce and eliminate food waste as soon as possible.

SDG 12.4: Responsible Management of Chemicals and Waste

• Quantities, and reduction in quantities, of chemicals of all kinds, including chemicals used in maintenance of collections facilities, and chemicals used in care and preparation of collections, and all wastes throughout their life cycle, reducing release to air, water and soil.
• Plans in place to eliminate the use and release of hazardous chemicals and harmful wastes of all kinds into the natural environment as soon as possible.

SDG 12.5: Substantially Reduce Waste Generation

• Quantity and reductions in quantity of waste of all kinds, including avoidance/prevention of waste production, reuse, and recycling. Quantity of material recycled in comparison with quantity sent to landfill. Increases in recycling rate in comparison with landfill.

SDG 12.6: Encourage Companies to Adopt Sustainable Practices and Sustainability Reporting

• Clear visions, strategies and plans in place for all aspects of sustainability – environmental, social and economic (people, planet, prosperity)- across all areas of activity.
• Visions, strategies and plans relating to sustainability to be publicly available and incorporated into planning documents.
• Commitments to be in line with local, regional, national and/or international targets and ambitions.
• Incorporation of sustainability into reporting for funders and other stakeholders, including the public. Reporting to include commitments and progress towards targets.

SDG 12.7: Promote Sustainable Public Procurement Practices

• Incorporation of sustainability considerations into procurement, in terms of advertisement and invitation to tender, contracts, and selection criteria for suppliers.

SDG 12.8: Promote Universal Understanding of Sustainable Lifestyles

• Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
• Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in formal, informal and non-formal education programmes and activities drawing on and related to collections.

SDG 12.B: Develop and Implement Tools to Monitor Sustainable Tourism

• Quantitative and qualitative metrics identified, collected and reported for evaluating performance of tourism in terms of social, environmental and economic benefits and impacts for: -jobs -promotion of local culture -local and related products -positive social and environmental benefits -reduction of negative impacts of tourism, e.g. climate impacts, negative social and environmental impacts.

SDG 13.1: Strengthen Resilience and Adaptive Capacity to Climate Related Disasters

• Plans in place for near and longer term to withstand and actively adapt to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

SDG 13.3: Build Knowledge and Capacity to Meet Climate Change

• Plans in place to enhance positive contributions to addressing climate change through use of collections. Plans in place to ensure collections, collections institutions and broader society can adapt effectively to climate change.
• Plans in place for effective education and awareness raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
• Plans in place to reduce negative contributions of collections-related functions, e.g. measuring greenhouse emissions with plans and targets in place to reduce them.

SDG 14.1: Reduce Marine Pollution

• Number of collections-related programmes, for example research and education, that aim to reduce marine pollution.
• Quantity, and reduction, of waste of all sorts, with plans in place to eliminate waste of all sorts as soon as possible.
• Quantity, and reduction, of plastic waste, with plans in place to eliminate the production and release of plastic waste as soon as possible.

SDG 14.2: Protect and Restore Ecosystems

• Proportion of marine and coastal areas in a good ecological condition.
• Numbers of educational and awareness-raising programmes, research activities, and partnerships drawing on collections aiming to support protection of marine and coastal areas.

SDG 14.7: Increase the Economic Benefits from Sustainable Use of Marine Resources

• Number of activities that support sustainable tourism relating to Small Island developing States and least developed countries.
• Economic benefits by value to Small Island Developing States and least developed countries.

SDG 15.1: Conserve and Restore Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems

• Proportion of terrestrial and inland freshwater systems in a good ecological condition.
• Information on, educational programmes, collections development, research and partnerships relating to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems drawing on collections in place.
• Policies relating to collections and their use aligned with international agreements for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

SDG 15.2: End Deforestation and Restore Degraded Forests

• Proportion of forests in a good ecological condition.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to forests drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and effective functioning.

SDG 15.3: End Desertification and Restore Degraded Land

• Proportion of soils and land area in a good ecological condition, with reference to desertification, drought and floods.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to soils and land use (with reference to desertification, drought and floods) drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and effective functioning.

SDG 15.4: Ensure Conservation of Mountain Ecosystems

• Proportion of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in a good ecological condition.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and effective functioning.

SDG 15.5: Protect Biodiversity and Natural Habitats

• Number and proportion of habitats, notably endangered habitats, and species with favourable conservation status, with special reference to locally, nationally and globally endangered species.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to habitats and species drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and continued existence.
• Measures taken to enhance biodiversity value of green space associated with collections institutions.

SDG 15.7: Eliminate Poaching and Trafficking of Protected Species

• Policies and plans in place to ensure objects and specimens of protected species (for example ivory, rhino horn) in collections are protected against theft and do not enter supply chains.
• Policies and plans in place to ensure that objects and specimens are only acquired in line with national and international legislation, or with legal dispensation.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to poached and trafficked species, notably protected and endangered species, to end poaching and trafficking.

SDG 15.8: Prevent Invasive Alien Species on Land and in Water Ecosystems

• Number and proportion of invasive alien species for which effective measures are in place to reduce their impact on land and water ecosystems.
• Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to invasive alien species, to support their effective management, and to prevent spread and impact.

SDG 15.9: Integrate Ecosystem and Biodiversity in Governmental Planning

• Proportion and number of relevant plans, processes and strategies that incorporate ecosystem and biodiversity values, and their relationships with effective collections.
• Plans in place to ensure that development of collections facilities contributes to effective conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

SDG 15.A: Increase Financial Resources to Conserve and Sustainably Use Ecosystems and Biodiversity

• Revenue generated to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Direct financial support given to projects and organisations for conservation and/or sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.

SDG 15.B: Finance and Incentivize Sustainable Forest Management

• Revenue generated to conserve and sustainably use forests, including conservation and reforestation, and that support local and Indigenous peoples.
• Direct financial support given to projects and organisations to conserve and sustainably use forests, including for conservation and reforestation, and that support local and Indigenous peoples.
• Other forms of support provided to projects and organisations to conserve and sustainably use forests, including for conservation and reforestation, and that support local and Indigenous peoples.

SDG 15.C: Combat Global Poaching and Trafficking

• Revenue generated to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, and to support local communities to pursue sustainable livelihoods.
• Direct financial support given to projects and organisations to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, and to support local communities to pursue sustainable livelihoods.

SDG 16.2: Protect Children from Abuse, Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence

• Collections development that addresses issues relating to child exploitation and violence.
• Number of educational, awareness-raising and partnership programmes drawing on collections that aim to reduce exploitation, trafficking and violence against children.
• Policies, plans and procedures in place to protect children from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation.

SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions

• Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
• Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
• Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
• Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
• Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
• Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
• Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.

SDG 16.7: Ensure Responsive, Inclusive and Representative Decision-Making

• Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
• Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group.
• Decision-making addresses societal, environmental and economic challenges related to the community, considering short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
• Decision-making draws on diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and interests, reflecting a broad base of stakeholders, and working to promote inclusion and provide effective services for all of society.

SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms

• Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
• Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
• Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
• Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
• Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.

SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies

• Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
• Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.

SDG 17.14: Enhance Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development

• Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
• Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.

SDG 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

• Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
• Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.

SDG 17.17: Encourage Effective Partnerships

• Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
• Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of local, national and regional multi-stakeholder (public, public-private and civil society) partnerships that address the SDGs drawing on collections, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.

SDG 17.19: Further Develop Measurements of Progress

• Identification and implementation of measures for sustainable development incorporating social and environmental considerations.
• Identification and implementation of both quantitative and qualitative measures of sustainable development.

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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) publishes new GSTC MICE Criteria

The GSTC Criteria serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. The Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses, organizations and government agencies, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism and are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.

The GSTC MICE Criteria are the third GSTC Criteria set, in addition to the GSTC Industry Criteria (for Hotels and Tour operators) and the GSTC Destination Criteria . The GSTC Attraction Criteria are currently under development.

GSTC MICE Criteria 

The GSTC MICE Criteria aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) businesses and provide a common understanding of sustainable practices in the MICE industry worldwide.

With the steady growth of the MICE industry coupled with the escalating demand for sustainable tourism, it is imperative to establish universal guidelines that prescribe sustainable practices to be adhered to by the various subsectors within the MICE industry. The GSTC MICE Criteria have been developed for the following subsectors: Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and are the minimum that any MICE business should aspire to attain. 

“After a year of dedicated work and effort, we announce the formal release of the GSTC MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. We thank the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), who has been a key contributor to its development. Let’s seize this opportunity together to significantly advance the MICE industry’s journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.

Yap Chin Siang, Deputy Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said: “Our collaboration with the GSTC and SACEOS to develop the GSTC MICE Criteria underscores Singapore’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and solidifies our position as a leading MICE destination. The MICE Criteria represents a major milestone on this journey, empowering industry players with the relevant tools to contribute to and thrive in a sustainable tourism landscape. I strongly urge all stakeholders in the MICE ecosystem to embrace the criteria and play a pivotal role in forging a greener future for global tourism.”

Singapore Tourism Board launched its MICE Sustainability Roadmap in 2022, demonstrating clear commitments towards its sustainability goals. This include launching local guidelines to provide best practices for MICE stakeholders on setting waste management goals and reducing specific types of waste, and to better manage carbon emissions. It has also worked closely with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), as well as public and private stakeholders, to improve the sustainability performance of organisations and explore ways to host sustainable events.

T he GSTC MICE Criteria will:

• Help define sustainability in a holistic manner
• Raise awareness of the breadth and nature of sustainability
• Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability
• Offer both public and private sectors a starting point by providing basic guidelines for MICE businesses to become more sustainable, including guidance for identifying more sustainable suppliers and service providers
• Help consumers identify sustainable MICE businesses
• Serve as a common denominator for recognizing sustainable MICE businesses, helping businesses in choosing sustainable suppliers and partners
• Serve as basic guidelines for education and training on sustainable MICE practices 
• Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act

Development of GSTC MICE Criteria

The GSTC MICE Criteria have been built on decades of prior work and experience around the world and take into account the numerous guidelines and standards for sustainable tourism from every continent. During the development process, criteria were widely consulted throughout the globe, in both developed and developing countries. They reflect our goal of attaining a global consensus on sustainable tourism. 

The Criteria have been developed and revised by following the GSTC Standard-setting Manual v3.0 while striving to adhere to the Standard-Setting Code of the ISEAL Alliance, the body recognized to provide guidance on international norms for developing sustainability standards in all sectors. More detailed information about the process development is available here and in the GSTC MICE Criteria Development Terms of Reference (TOR) document .

GSTC MICE Criteria development process is shown below (Figure 1):

The Criteria development process was an 18-month-long journey from September 2022 to February 2024 (the formal period was 11 months, from April 2023 ). The first round of public consultation took place for two months, from June 15th to August 15th, 2023. The key findings report is available here .

After compiling and revising the second draft, a Feasibility Assessment was conducted to evaluate the suggested criteria based on a compiled draft from the GSTC Technical Team, and to assess the readability (how easy to understand the criteria are), measurability/auditability (how objective they are), and feasibility of the requirement (how likely they are to be met) of each criterion. The feasibility assessment took place from October 15th to November 15th, 2023. Organizations that took part in the Feasibility Assessment can be found in the annex below. [1]* 

Revisions to the GSTC MICE Criteria draft were made after the second public consultation period that was conducted from November 24th to December 29th, 2023. Final draft and consensus were made before the final adoption and publication. 

Sukumar Verma, Vice President, Industry & Enterprise, SACEOS , said: “SACEOS is proud to have been a collaborative partner with the Singapore Tourism Board in developing the first GSTC MICE Criteria. We are also honoured to be part of the GSTC MICE Advisory Group to help shape the future of sustainable MICE and business events. As the national trade association representing Singapore’s MICE industry, we are grateful to our members for their valued inputs in championing the development of this comprehensive criteria. These standards provide a clear and actionable framework for businesses and organisations in sustainable event management for Event Organisers and Venues. The GSTC MICE Criteria will be instrumental in accelerating sustainable practices throughout the MICE sector both locally and globally.”

The GSTC will launch an ‘Early Adopter Program’ for the MICE Criteria. This program will run for two years, giving industry players the opportunity to apply the Criteria in the field and form a network for knowledge and experience sharing. Information on the Program will soon be announced. If you would like to get in touch before the announcement, please contact [email protected] .

GSTC Criteria & SDGs

There is a strong relationship between the GSTC Criteria and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). By achieving the GSTC Criteria, organizations are helping to meet the UN SDGs. Economic, environmental, and societal dimensions are all addressed by the GSTC Criteria. Destinations and organizations looking to contribute to the SDGs will find that the GSTC Criteria provide effective tools to help them rise to the challenge. Further guidance on the criteria may be found in the supporting indicators and definitions set out in the publication. 

Acknowledgments 

Along with GSTC and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) , the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), Singapore’s MICE industry association, has been a key contributor to the development of the GSTC MICE Criteria . We wish to extend our gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who participated in the development process for supporting our mission and providing their expertise and feedback.  

A MICE Criteria Development Advisory Group [2]* was formed for the GSTC MICE Criteria development, which comprised ten organizations from both the public and private sectors with a proven history in organizing and hosting MICE events, to whom we wish to express our appreciation for playing a pivotal role in the development of the criteria. As well as to those who participated in the public consultation and the feasibility assessment, thank you for contributing to the development of the GSTC MICE Criteria.

Information about the GSTC MICE Criteria Development Terms of Reference (TOR) can be found in this document. More information about Criteria Development, Feedback & Revisions can be found here .

[Note: As the owner of the GSTC Criteria, the GSTC reserves the right to assess and charge fees for the commercial use of the GSTC Criteria]

[1]* Asian Ecotourism Network, Costa Rica Tourism Board, Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), ExpoCité | Ville de Québec, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Japan Convention Services, Malta Tourism Authority, Marina Bay Sands, Osaka International Convention Center Corp, Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Development Corporation, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau, Suwon Convention & Visitor Bureau, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).

[2]* The MICE Criteria Development Advisory Group included: Green Key Global, Osaka Convention Bureau, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), Suwon Convention Center, Visit Berlin, Visit Oslo, Singapore Tourism Board.

About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.

More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com   | Follow us: STB LinkedIn , STB Facebook or STB Instagram

About GSTC 

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators, and MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to 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.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership , including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/  

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Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

Promoting and implementing universal sustainable tourism principles around the world.

• Client: Global Sustainable Tourism Council
• Partners: United Nations Foundation, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Rainforest Alliance, Sabre Holdings, Travelocity, Expedia Inc., United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
• Project Duration: March 2007 – May 2009

Project Description 

Sustainable tourism is on the rise: consumer demand is growing, travel industry suppliers are developing new green programs, and governments are creating new policies to encourage sustainable practices in tourism. But what does sustainable tourism really mean? How can it be measured and credibly demonstrated to build consumer confidence, promote efficiency, and fight greenwashing? In order to mainstream sustainable tourism it must be easy to understand for tourists and tourism businesses alike. There must be educational tools and market access mechanisms to drive learning about sustainability as well as create tangible financial incentives.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria were developed as part of a broad initiative managed by The Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership), a coalition of over 40 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. In an effort to come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism, the GSTC Partnership—initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)—developed a set of baseline criteria organized around the four pillars of sustainable tourism: effective sustainability planning; maximizing social and economic benefits to the local community; reduction of negative impacts to cultural heritage; and reduction of negative impacts to environmental heritage. For more information please visit http://www.gstcouncil.org/.

Major Activities

To initially develop the Criteria, Solimar supported the partnership through consultation with sustainability experts and the tourism industry and reviewed more than 60 existing certification and voluntary sets of criteria already being implemented around the globe. Major activities include:

• Establishing partnerships:  formed a coalition of relevant stakeholders to come together to develop, adopt, and promote universal sustainable tourism criteria.
• Increasing awareness of sustainable tourism:  creating and disseminating educational materials based on the criteria to help tourism businesses understand sustainable best practices.
• Developing Indicators:  creating a set of measurement resources for the criteria so that certification programs and businesses can begin a measurable form of criteria implementaion
• Building capacity:  creating a self-assessment tool for to guide businesses through the process of implementing sustainable best practices and providing guidelines for education and training bodies such as universities to follow and use.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) serves as the international body for fostering increased knowledge and understanding of sustainable tourism practices, promoting the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and building demand for sustainable travel. This is accomplished through the work executed by its diverse programs: international standard-setting, destination stewardship, education and training, market access, and accreditation. Solimar has supported the GSTC through:

• The development of a dynamic and interactive website that serves as an educational hub for tourism businesses on how to become more sustainable and acquire the resources necessary to initiate, increase, or improve their sustainable operations.
• The creation and implementation of a comprehensive social media strategy
• An open source self-assessment tool for businesses to measure their current operations against the GSTC and identify areas of improvement.
• Ongoing technical support for detailed global consultation of tourism stakeholders

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• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets:  Destination Criteria  for public policy-makers and destination managers,  Industry Criteria  for hotels and tour operators, and  MICE Criteria  for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; and (D) Environmental impacts. Since tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation Accreditation for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators/transport providers, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but provides an accreditation program to accredit Certification Bodies.

The GSTC is an independent and neutral organization,  legally registered in the USA as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization  that represents a diverse and global  membership , including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. It is a  virtual organization  without a main office, with staff and volunteers working from all six populated continents. Financial support from donations, sponsorship, and membership fees allows us to provide services at low costs and to create, revise, and make available the GSTC Criteria. GSTC is an  ISEAL Community Member .

Membership is open to all interested parties  and does not by itself imply endorsement by the GSTC of the policies and practices of the member organization.

Role in programme(s):

Commitments:.

In the framework of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council commits to:

Encouraging affiliated organisations and businesses or partners to join the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative by sharing important development and insights with GSTC Members as well as informing about the GTPI including provision of support on how to join it and learn more about practices to reduce single-use plastics items and packaging through GSTC's media channels.

Advising and guiding affiliated organisations and businesses or partners to better manage plastics in their operations through a focus on adherence to the GSTC Criteria which include reference to plastic-related issues and promotion of establishing sustainable certification which pursue plastic reduction policies as part of a holistic take on sustainability.

Communicating successes to affiliated organisations and businesses, partners, travellers and key local stakeholder through promotion of success stories and case studies.

Randy Durband

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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) publishes new GSTC MICE Criteria

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is pleased to announce that the GSTC MICE Criteria have been published and are available to the public for non- commercial use. Developed for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, the GSTC MICE Criteria, developed with support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will guide businesses toward implementing sustainable practices in response to the growing focus on sustainability.

The GSTC Criteria serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. The Criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses, organizations and government agencies, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism and are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.

The GSTC MICE Criteria are the third GSTC Criteria set, in addition to the GSTC Industry Criteria (for Hotels and Tour operators) and the GSTC Destination Criteria. The GSTC Attraction Criteria are currently under development.

GSTC MICE Criteria

The GSTC MICE Criteria aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) businesses and provide a common understanding of sustainable practices in the MICE industry worldwide.

With the steady growth of the MICE industry coupled with the escalating demand for sustainable tourism, it is imperative to establish universal guidelines that prescribe sustainable practices to be adhered to by the various subsectors within the MICE industry. The GSTC MICE Criteria have been developed for the following subsectors: Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and are the minimum that any MICE business should aspire to attain.

“After a year of dedicated work and effort, we announce the formal release of the GSTC MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. We thank the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), who has been a key contributor to its development. Let’s seize this opportunity together to significantly advance the MICE industry’s journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.

Yap Chin Siang, Deputy Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said: “Our collaboration with the GSTC and SACEOS to develop the GSTC MICE Criteria underscores Singapore’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and solidifies our position as a leading MICE destination. The MICE Criteria represents a major milestone on this journey, empowering industry players with the relevant tools to contribute to and thrive in a sustainable tourism landscape. I strongly urge all stakeholders in the MICE ecosystem to embrace the criteria and play a pivotal role in forging a greener future for global tourism.”

Singapore Tourism Board launched its MICE Sustainability Roadmap in 2022, demonstrating clear commitments towards its sustainability goals. This include launching local guidelines to provide best practices for MICE stakeholders on setting waste management goals and reducing specific types of waste, and to better manage carbon emissions. It has also worked closely with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), as well as public and private stakeholders, to improve the sustainability performance of organisations and explore ways to host sustainable events.

The GSTC MICE Criteria will:

• Help define sustainability in a holistic manner
• Raise awareness of the breadth and nature of sustainability
• Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability
• Offer both public and private sectors a starting point by providing basic guidelines for MICE businesses to become more sustainable, including guidance for identifying more sustainable suppliers and service providers
• Help consumers identify sustainable MICE businesses
• Serve as a common denominator for recognizing sustainable MICE businesses, helping businesses in choosing sustainable suppliers and partners
• Serve as basic guidelines for education and training on sustainable MICE practices
• Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act

Development of GSTC MICE Criteria

The GSTC MICE Criteria have been built on decades of prior work and experience around the world and take into account the numerous guidelines and standards for sustainable tourism from every continent. During the development process, criteria were widely consulted throughout the globe, in both developed and developing countries. They reflect our goal of attaining a global consensus on sustainable tourism.

The Criteria have been developed and revised by following the GSTC Standard-setting Manual v3.0 while striving to adhere to the Standard-Setting Code of the ISEAL Alliance, the body recognized to provide guidance on international norms for developing sustainability standards in all sectors. More detailed information about the process development is available here and in the GSTC MICE Criteria Development Terms of Reference (TOR) document.

GSTC MICE Criteria development process is shown below (Figure 1):

The Criteria development process was an 18-month-long journey from September 2022 to February 2024 (the formal period was 11 months, from April 2023). The first round of public consultation took place for two months, from June 15th to August 15th, 2023.

After compiling and revising the second draft, a Feasibility Assessment was conducted to evaluate the suggested criteria based on a compiled draft from the GSTC Technical Team, and to assess the readability (how easy to understand the criteria are), measurability/auditability (how objective they are), and feasibility of the requirement (how likely they are to be met) of each criterion. The feasibility assessment took place from October 15th to November 15th, 2023. Organizations that took part in the Feasibility Assessment can be found in the annex below.

Revisions to the GSTC MICE Criteria draft were made after the second public consultation period that was conducted from November 24th to December 29th, 2023. Final draft and consensus were made before the final adoption and publication.

Sukumar Verma, Vice President, Industry & Enterprise, SACEOS, said: “SACEOS is proud to have been a collaborative partner with the Singapore Tourism Board in developing the first GSTC MICE Criteria. We are also honoured to be part of the GSTC MICE Advisory Group to help shape the future of sustainable MICE and business events. As the national trade association representing Singapore’s MICE industry, we are grateful to our members for their valued inputs in championing the development of this comprehensive criteria. These standards provide a clear and actionable framework for businesses and organisations in sustainable event management for Event Organisers and Venues. The GSTC MICE Criteria will be instrumental in accelerating sustainable practices throughout the MICE sector both locally and globally.”

The GSTC will launch an ‘Early Adopter Program’ for the MICE Criteria. This program will run for two years, giving industry players the opportunity to apply the Criteria in the field and form a network for knowledge and experience sharing.

GSTC Criteria & SDGs

There is a strong relationship between the GSTC Criteria and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). By achieving the GSTC Criteria, organizations are helping to meet the UN SDGs. Economic, environmental, and societal dimensions are all addressed by the GSTC Criteria. Destinations and organizations looking to contribute to the SDGs will find that the GSTC Criteria provide effective tools to help them rise to the challenge. Further guidance on the criteria may be found in the supporting indicators and definitions set out in the publication.

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World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024: Tourism is Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels, but Challenges Remain

• Despite post-pandemic growth, the global tourism sector still faces complex challenges, with recovery varied by region; only marginal overall score improvements since the 2021 edition. 
• Developing economies are making strides – who account for 52 out of 71 economies improving since 2019 – but significant investment is needed to bridge gaps and increase market share. 
• Read the report here . 

International tourist arrivals and the travel and tourism sector’s contribution to global GDP are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, driven by the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions and strong pent-up demand, as per the new World Economic Forum travel and tourism study, released yesterday.

Topping the 2024 list of economies are the United States, Spain, Japan, France and Australia. The Middle East had the highest recovery rates in international tourist arrivals (20% above the 2019 level), while Europe, Africa and the Americas all showed a strong recovery of around 90% in 2023. 

These are some of the top findings of the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 (TTDI) , a biennial report published in collaboration with the University of Surrey, which analyses the travel and tourism sectors of 119 countries around a range of factors and policies. 

“This year marks a turning point for the travel and tourism sector, which we know has the capacity to unlock growth and serve communities through economic and social transformation,” said Francisco Betti , Head of the Global Industries team at the World Economic Forum . “The TTDI offers a forward-looking window into the current and future state of travel and tourism for leaders to navigate the latest trends in this complex sector and sustainably unlock its potential for communities and countries across the world.” 

Post-pandemic recovery 

The global tourism industry is expected to recover from the lows of the COVID-19 pandemic and surpass the levels seen before the crisis. This is largely being driven by a significant increase in demand worldwide, which has coincided with more available flights, better international openness, and increased interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions. 

However, the global recovery has been mixed. While 71 of the 119 ranked economies increased their scores since 2019, the average index score is just 0.7% above pre-pandemic levels. 

Although the sector has moved past the shock of the global health crisis, it continues to deal with other external challenges, from growing macroeconomic, geopolitical and environmental risks, to increased scrutiny of its sustainability practices and the impact of new digital technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence. In addition, labour shortages are ongoing, and air route capacity, capital investment, productivity and other sector supply factors have not kept up with the increase in demand. This imbalance, worsened by global inflation, has increased prices and service issues.

TTDI 2024 highlights 

Out of the top 30 index scorers in 2024, 26 are high-income economies, 19 are based in Europe, seven are in Asia-Pacific, three are in the Americas and one (the United Arab Emirates) is in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). The top 10 countries in the 2024 edition are the United States, Spain, Japan, France, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy and Switzerland. 

The results highlight that high-income economies generally continue to have more favourable conditions for travel and tourism development. This is helped by conducive business environments, dynamic labour markets, open travel policies, strong transport and tourism infrastructure, and well-developed natural, cultural and non-leisure attractions. 

Nevertheless, developing countries have seen some of the greatest improvements in recent years. Among the upper-middle-income economies, China has cemented its ranking in the top 10; major emerging travel and tourism destinations of Indonesia, Brazil and Türkiye have joined China in the top quartile of the rankings. More broadly, low- to upper-middle-income economies account for over 70% of countries that have improved their scores since 2019, while MENA and sub-Saharan Africa are among the most improved regions. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the only high-income economies to rank among the top 10 most improved economies between 2019 and 2024. 

Despite these strides, the TTDI warns that significant investment is needed to close gaps in enabling conditions and market share between developing and high-income countries. One possible pathway to help achieve this would be sustainably leveraging natural and cultural assets – which are less correlated with country income level than other factors – and can offer developing economies an opportunity for tourism-led economic development. 

“It’s essential to bridge the divide between differing economies’ ability to build a strong environment for their travel and tourism sector to thrive,” said Lis Tussyadiah , Professor and Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey . “The sector has big potential to foster prosperity and mitigate global risks, but that potential can only be fully realized through a strategic and inclusive approach.” 

Mitigating future global challenges 

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, the travel and tourism sector faces various complex risks , including geopolitical uncertainties, economic fluctuations, inflation and extreme weather. Balancing growth with sustainability also remains a major problem, due to high seasonality, overcrowding, and a likely return of pre-pandemic emissions levels. The report also analyses persistent concerns about equity and inclusion. While the tourism sector offers a major source of relatively high-wage jobs, particularly in developing countries, gender parity remains a major issue for regions such as MENA and South Asia. 

Despite these challenges, the sector can play a significant role in addressing them. To achieve this, decision-makers should prioritize actions such as leveraging tourism for nature conservation efforts; investing in skilled, inclusive and resilient workforces; strategically managing visitor behaviour and infrastructure development; encouraging cultural exchange between visitors and local communities; and using the sector to bridge the digital divide, among other policies. 

If managed strategically, the travel and tourism sector – which has historically represented 10% of global GDP and employment – has the potential to emerge as a key contributor to the well-being and prosperity of communities worldwide. 

About the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 

The 2024 edition of the TTDI includes several improvements based on newly available data and recently developed indicators on the environmental and social impact of travel and tourism. The changes made to the 2024 Index limit its comparability to the previously published TTDI 2021. This year’s report includes recalculated 2019 and 2021 results, using new adjustments. TTDI 2024 reflects the latest available data at the time of collection – end of 2023. The TTDI is part of the Forum’s broader work with industry communities actively working to build a better future enabled by sustainable, inclusive, and resilient industry ecosystems. 

Read the original press release here: https://www.weforum.org/press/2024/05/tourism-is-back-to-pre-pandemic-levels-but-challenges-remain/  

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Inclusive governance and community engagement in tourism planning and management can aid sustainable development goals. Image:  Unsplash/D Jonez

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• Tourism is a significant economic force that has returned close to pre-pandemic figures, with 1.3 billion international travellers and tourism exports valued at approximately $1.6 trillion in 2023.
• The tourism sector must adopt sustainable practices in response to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
• Inclusive governance and community engagement in tourism planning and management are key to ensuring the sector’s support to local identity, rights and well-being.

With mounting challenges to our societies – conflict, geopolitical tension, climate change and rising inequality – we should look to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their promise of a shared blueprint for peace, prosperity, people and planet by 2030. However, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reminds us , “that promise is in peril” with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic having stalled three decades of steady progress.

Tourism can help deliver a better future, and with less than six years to go, it must unleash its full power to achieve this.

Have you read?

Turning tourism into development: mitigating risks and leveraging heritage assets, what is travel and tourism’s role in future global prosperity, how travel and tourism can reach net zero, tourism’s economic boon.

International tourists reached 89% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Around 1.3 billion tourists travelled internationally, with total tourism exports of $1.7 trillion, about 96% in real terms of the pre-pandemic value. Preliminary estimates indicate that tourism's direct gross domestic product (GDP) reached $3.3 trillion, the same as 2019, as per our World Tourism Barometer .

Yet, persisting inflation, high interest rates, volatile oil prices and disruptions to trade could impact the pace of recovery. Uncertainty derived from ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and growing tensions in the Middle East, alongside other mounting geopolitical tensions, may also weigh on traveller confidence.

Results from the World Economic Forum’s latest Travel & Tourism Development Index reflect the impact of some of these challenges on the sector’s recovery and travel and tourism’s potential to address many of the world’s growing environmental, social and economic problems.

Therefore, as the sector returns, it remains our responsibility to ensure that this is a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery.

The climate imperative

Climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss are making extreme weather events increasingly challenging for destinations and communities worldwide. The tourism sector is simultaneously highly vulnerable to climate change and a contributor to harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Accelerating climate action in tourism is critical for the sector’s and host communities’ resilience. We are taking responsibility but more needs to be done to reduce plastics, curb food waste, protect and restore biodiversity, and reduce emissions as the demand for travel grows.

The framework proposed by the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism is catalyzing the development and implementation of climate action plans, guided by and aligned to five pathways (measure, decarbonize, regenerate, collaborate and finance). It’s a clear plan to enable the transition towards low carbon and regenerative tourism operations for resilience. Over 850 signatories from 90 countries are involved in innovating solutions, creating resources and connecting across supply chains, destinations and communities.

Leaving no-one behind

Tourism can be a powerful tool to fight inequality, within and between countries but only so long as we also address diversity, equity and inclusion in the sector, provide decent jobs and ensure respect for host communities and shared benefits.

One good example of tourism’s potential to progress shared prosperity is Rwanda’s Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme . Initiated in 2005 and revised in 2022, it aligns conservation efforts with community development. The programme designates a portion of National Parks revenues to ensure that local communities benefit directly from conservation and tourism activities. Initially set at 5%, the share of total revenue now stands at 10% .

Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024

New tools, jobs and values.

Technology, ease of travel and the pandemic have all accelerated changes in how we work. Again, as we progress, we have a duty to ensure we are leaving nobody behind. Education and skills are vital to progressing equality, growth and opportunities for all, making them a cornerstone of the SDGs. However, tourism businesses face a labour shortage to cope with travel demand. We must make tourism more attractive to young people so they see it as a valued career path.

We also need to support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which make up around 80% of all tourism businesses worldwide and up to 98% in some Group of 20 (G20) economies. While each country’s challenges are different, digitization, market access, marketing and skill gaps are key areas we should address with targeted policies for MSMEs and entrepreneurship.

Measuring impact

Sustainable tourism is only possible if we can properly measure the sector’s impact and progress in three dimensions: economic, social and environmental.

Last March, the UN adopted a new global standard to measure the sustainability of tourism (MST) – economic, social and environmental. Developed under the leadership of UN Tourism and endorsed by all 193 UN member states, the MST statistical framework provides the common language (agreed definitions, tables and indicators) for producing harmonized data on key economic, social and environmental aspects of tourism.

Countries and other stakeholders now have the foundation to produce trustworthy, comparable data for steering the sector towards its full potential. And indeed, over 30 countries and subnational regions have already implemented the flexible MST framework, focusing on the data most relevant to their sustainability efforts.

Centring community wellbeing

Increasingly, communities worldwide demand a tourism sector that respects their identity, rights and wellbeing.

Transforming the sector requires rethinking governance as more holistic with a whole-government approach, multi-level coordination between national and local policies and strong public-private-community partnerships. Listening and engaging residents in tourism planning and management is at the core of the sector’s future.

Take Barcelona as an example. Here, e tourism represents 14% of the city’s GDP. The Tourism and City Council was created in 2016 and relies on citizen participation to advise the municipal government on tourism public policies. This initiative demonstrates the advancement of tourism governance from classic public-private collaboration to public-private-community. Therefore, issues around the visitor economy become those for official city consideration.

Delivering on tourism’s potential

We urgently need to grow investment in tourism. The data is encouraging: the UN Conference on Trade and Development World Investment Report 2023 shows that global foreign direct investment across all sectors, tourism included, reached approximately $1.37 trillion that year, marking a modest increase of 3% from 2022.

At the same time, we need to ensure this investment is targeted where it will make the most significant and most positive impact by building greater resilience and accelerating the shift towards greater sustainability.

The significant benefits tourism can offer our economies and societies, as well as the challenges obstructing us from fully delivering on this potential, are now more widely recognized than ever.

Tourism is firmly on the agenda of the UN, G20 and Group of Seven nations and the Forum. Delivering on this potential, however, will require political commitment and significant investment. But given what is at stake and the potential benefits to be gained, it should be seen as a huge opportunity rather than a daunting challenge.

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World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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