Member Rights & Benefits


Snapshot of Membership Benefits

Full Membership in the GSTC brings all rights and privileges as outlined below. The United Nations Foundation, on behalf of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, will commit to the following terms.

  • Empowerment through Participation: Members will have the ability to be involved in key decision-making processes that will shape the work of the GSTC program and the sustainable tourism sector and standards.

  • Fostering Partnerships amongst a network of sustainable tourism professionals and stakeholders at the local, regional and national level.

  • Quality Networking Opportunities – Members will be able to attend customized council meetings that bring common stakeholders to the table.

  • Access to tools and educational resources: members will have exclusive access to procedures and tools for implementing or applying the GSTC criteria.

  • Foster Market Access opportunities

Members will be able to:

  • Have their GSTC accredited and verified tourism product recognized through a GSTC solution that provides these products access to various distribution channels.

  • Have access to assessment and measurement opportunities for small businesses that may not have the resources to seek certification. Establish relationships with distributing companies, travel agencies, tourism boards, associations and others to actively promote GSTC accredited product.

  • Gain visibility by promoting their organizational logo on the GSTC website.

  • Use or display of the GSTC name and logo as set out in the GSTC logo guidelines.

  • GSTC accredited certification programs will have access to the GSTC accreditation logo according to the GSTC accreditation logo guidelines.

 

Member Rights

  • The right to attend the Membership Council meetings;

  • The right to bring matters or other business to the attention of the GSTC for consideration at the Membership Council meeting, in accordance with the notice of provisions established in the current articles;

  • The right to have access to Board and senior officials of the GSTC;

  • The right to nominate or second a person for election to the Board of Directors of the GSTC;

  • The right to vote with each member having the right to one vote.  The voting member must be in good standing and must have paid the annual dues.

  • The right to join a working group if they have the appropriate qualifications.

  • The right to use the logo of the organization if compliant with the terms and regulations and brand guidelines for GSTC logo use.

  • Access to the member only section

  • Access to education and training tools with no cost or reduced cost

 

Member Obligations

Commitments include but are not limited to the following:

  • Demonstrate public commitment to GSTC’s mission and objectives and provide a statement of support for GSTC describing how the organization or individual member is meeting the aims of GSTC;

  • Demonstrate commitment to the adoption of the international standards developed by GSTC as applicable and present a plan to start integration of the criteria to its policies within 12 months;

  • Show public support for GSTC’s international criteria as a tool to mainstream sustainability practices in the tourism sector;

  • Pay the approved annual membership by the due date (membership shall commence upon payment), with the exception of intergovernmental organizations, which will be exempt from this requirement;

  • Comply with the provisions concerning the use or display of GSTC’s name and logo as set out in GSTC’s brand guidelines;

  • Indicate support for the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics;

  • Not execute activities in accordance with GSTC’s mission in such a way that compromises the reputation of GSTC or has a negative impact on GSTC;

  • Not have any conflict of interest with GSTC; and

  • Aim to use GSTC criteria in procurement and supply chain practices

Travel & Tourism Industry Members must:

  • Have a genuine commitment to continuous improvement on their social, environmental and cultural performance, including active approval and continued commitment at senior management level as demonstrated by a letter of intent signed by a CEO or equivalent decisionmaker;

  • Demonstrate existence of a corporate policy towards sustainable tourism or commit to establishing a policy, aligned with GSTC, within 12 months of joining GSTC, or be certified by a GSTC-accredited body;

  • Provide honest and objective information to tourists, press and other parties regarding the industries’ sustainability practices; and

  • Hold appropriate license/registration to operate.

Certification Bodies must:

  • Ensure certification programs align with GSTC criteria aiming at accreditation within 12 months;

  • Aim to achieve accreditation by GSTC criteria within 24 months of membership;

  • Demonstrate compliance with basic GSTC accreditation requirements as outlined in the accreditation manual.  Non-compliance will result in loss of membership, unless justified (based on procedures outlined in the accreditation manual); and

  • Comply with the provisions concerning the use or display of the accreditation logo.

Travel and Trade Associations must:

  • Promote GSTC amongst their constituencies and the adoption of GSTC’s criteria.

Public authorities must:

  • Have commitment to adopt the GSTC international criteria, within 24 months,  in avenues that promote sustainability measures (i.e. education and awareness raising tools; as a voluntary standard; as a means to embed the GSTC in government owned certification programs or grading systems)

  • Encourage local industry to improve sustainable performance of operations

  • Incorporate sustainable product offering in marketing efforts