Launch of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
Barcelona, Spain
Voluntary standards help travel suppliers around the world meet increasing consumer demand for products and services that will have positive effects on communities and the environment
The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria were launched by the United Nations Foundation, UNWTO, UNEP and the Rainforest Alliance at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2008. The new criteria – based on thousands of best practices culled from the existing standards currently in use around the world – were developed to offer a common framework to guide the emerging practice of sustainable tourism. Mr. Frangialli pointed out that "In order to minimize the negative impacts of this growth, sustainability should translate from words to facts, and be an imperative for all tourism stakeholders. The GSTC initiative will undoubtedly constitute a major reference point for the entire tourism sector and an important step in making sustainability an inherent part of tourism development."For press release, click here
