What is
GSTC Accreditation?
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) provides and manages accreditation.
Accreditation is a mark of quality that GSTC places on the certification bodies (CBs) that opt for our independent and impartial process to ensure they certify businesses, such as hotels, tour operators, or destinations, in a competent and unbiased manner.
Being 'GSTC-Accredited' means that the CB conducts certification in accordance with processes compliant with international standards and best practices. It stands as the most dependable means to ensure confidence and credibility in sustainable tourism certification.
Learn more about the differences between Certification, Accreditation and Recognition.
The Differences Between
Accreditation and Recogition
Accreditation
Accreditation is a mark of quality that GSTC places on Certification Bodies that choose our independent and neutral process to verify that they certify businesses, such as hotels or tour operators, or destinations, in a competent and neutral manner. GSTC looks very hard at the CB's process of certification to ensure you that they issue certifications based on merit and neutrality.
Recognition
GSTC Recognition is NOT a mark like accreditation; rather it is a status GSTC provides to a set of standards that are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. This does NOT relate to the process of certification, nor to accreditation. Why is this important? Because it shows that the set of standards are based on the 4 pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Environment, Social, Cultural, and Management principles.
