GSTC Certification
for Destinations

The international certification that rewards only truly sustainable destinations, for a tourism that looks to the future.

What is the
GSTC Destination
Certification?

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the international organization leading the promotion of sustainable tourism.

Founded in 2007 by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), the GSTC defines global sustainability standards in tourism and ensures their implementation through a globally recognized certification system.

The GSTC certification for tourist destinations is the most authoritative recognition for those who make sustainability a central part of their strategy. Obtaining it means:

demonstrating a concrete commitment to sustainable tourism;
enhancing the reputation and attractiveness of the destination;
actively engaging the local community and stakeholders;
accessing international networks of certified destinations.

This specific helps destinations measure, plan and communicate their sustainability actions in a transparent and verifiable manner.

The GSTC standards for destinations are recognised globally and are based on four fundamental pillars that guide sustainable tourism:

Sustainable management (Governance): adoption of effective and responsible governance;
Socio-economic sustainability: creating benefits for the local community and reducing negative impacts;
Cultural sustainability: enhancement and protection of cultural heritage;
Environmental sustainability: protecting the environment and reducing impacts on the territory.

These criteria form the basis for the assessment and certification of destinations wishing to align themselves with internationally recognised sustainable tourism standards.

Being accredited by GSTC means that verification and audit processes are carried out according to rigorous standards of independence, transparency and credibility. Vireo applies procedures that comply with international accreditation requirements, ensuring that each audit fully reflects the principles of quality and impartiality established by GSTC.

Vireo’s GSTC accreditation is verified directly on the official GSTC website, confirming the full transparency and reliability of our operations.

Why choose the GSTC certification?

	International standard with third-party verification		Self declared eco labels Proprietary standards and verification
International recognition
Specific to tourism
Covers social, environmental, cultural, and governance aspects
Stakeholder involvement in standard development
Not a private scheme
Third-party certification by an accredited body
Recognized for access to public funding calls			Depends

Frequently
Asked
Questions

GSTC certification promotes the concept of 360° sustainable tourism, integrating concrete principles and requirements to:
• reduce the environmental impacts of tourism activities;
• enhance and protect local cultural heritage;
• maximise social and economic benefits for local communities.

Thanks to these criteria, the GSTC standard offers destinations a clear path to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism and improve their international reputation.

The GSTC certification process with Vireo involves a number of key steps:

1. Destination preparation: the destination collects the documentation and data necessary to demonstrate compliance with GSTC criteria.

2. Certification audit (Main Assessment): a team of qualified auditors conducts an on-site assessment to verify compliance with the GSTC Standard requirements.

3. Issuance of the certificate: if the audit is successful, the GSTC certificate is issued within a few weeks, confirming the recognition of the destination's sustainability.

This process ensures transparency, independence, and credibility, allowing the destination to concretely demonstrate its commitment to certified sustainable tourism.

The GSTC certificate is valid for three years. During this period, the destination must continue to meet the GSTC Standard requirements and is subject to surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance with sustainable tourism criteria.

GSTC-certified destinations can use the official GSTC logo on their website and on promotional material, making their commitment to sustainable tourism public.

Thanks to this recognition, tourists and stakeholders can easily identify destinations that meet international sustainability standards, standing out in the market and enhancing their credibility.

The GSTC Destination Criteria list all the requirements to be met for tourist destinations (municipalities, resorts, parks, territorial authorities). The standard is freely available in several languages on the official GSTC website.

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