Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and protecting the fragile environment

      Growing numbers of tourists are becoming more interested in sustainable tourism. Companies are working hard to create environmentally friendly products and services. Governments and international organizations have also created policies to promote sustainable tourism.

       The Global Sustainable Tourism Guidelines were developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to provide a common understanding of sustainable tourism. GSTC or GSTC-D criteria are basic criteria that tourist attractions or destinations should strive to meet by managing them holistically and looking at the big picture, which includes these four major topics:

1) Having an effective sustainability management system;

2) Promoting benefits and reducing negative economic and social impacts;

3) Promoting cultural benefits and reducing negative impacts;

4) Promoting benefits and reducing environmental impacts.

       The criteria are designed to be applicable to attractions of all types and sizes.

       The global sustainable tourism criteria – in terms of environmental sustainability, conservation of natural heritage, and protection of the fragile environment – make it clear that attractions must have systems in place to monitor, assess, and respond to tourism impacts on the natural environment, preservation of ecosystems, habitats, and plant or animal species, including the need to prevent the initiation and spread of exotic plant or animal species. These purposes are accomplished by setting indicators, as follows:

• A natural heritage site and archive of natural property have been established, with species, conservation status, and their vulnerability identified;
• There is an action plan in place to protect biodiversity and natural heritage;
• There is an action plan in place to eradicate and control alien plant and animal species;
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate tourism's impacts on biodiversity and natural heritage;
• There is a mechanism in place to use tourism revenue to support natural asset conservation;
• To reduce the spread of exotic plant or animal species, information is communicated to tourists and businesses.

Source : Global Sustainable Tourism Council

Information as of 28 February 2023