First all UK and Ireland green certification agreed

Dr Xavier Font – Certifier of Certifiers

Green Tourism Business Scheme becomes first sustainable certification programme endorsed by all five of the National Tourism Agencies of UK and Ireland.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme has become the first sustainable certification programme of its kind to be to endorsed by all five of the National Tourism Agencies of the UK and Ireland.

The scheme, which started in Scotland 15 years ago, has been independently validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) on behalf of VisitEngland, VisitWales and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, and now endorsed by VisitScotland and Failte Ireland.

Having grown to almost 2,500 members the Perth-based scheme is already the biggest in the world and now operates in many countries including Canada and New Zealand.

GTBS is now operational in all regions of the UK and Ireland with over 1,350 certified businesses in England, 800 in Scotland, 100 in Wales, 50 in Ireland and 15 in Northern Ireland.

Members are awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold grading based on more than 145 criteria, including the installation of efficient lighting and heating, the promotion of nature conservation, use of renewable energy, use of local produce and community involvement. Independent family businesses and multi-national hotel chains operating in the UK are all graded in the same way with members reporting savings of up to more than £1million a year on energy and consumable costs.

According to Dr Xavier Font of Leeds Metropolitan University’s International Centre for Responsible Tourism, which carried out the sustainable tourism certification validation for VisitEngland, VisitWales and Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the growth of the GTBS has been "remarkable". "With over 2,400 certified businesses in Britain and Ireland, the Green Tourism Business Scheme is the largest sustainable tourism certification in the world.

"The scheme has been running since 1997 as a non-profit organisation, offering outstanding value for money to applicants, with clear guidance materials and support systems, and a high market exposure," said Dr Font in his newly published report. "

"It differs from other programmes by employing only full time staff including auditors, which increases its quality systems and consistency."

He said the GTBS had improved the balance of socio-economic criteria vs environmental and the ethos of the scheme had reinforced the idea that membership of GTBS was recognised as a commitment to good environmental practice in business activities".

"Our system was ahead of its time when it was introduced and has been helping businesses meet visitor expectations by making them more environmentally efficient ever since," said Andrea Nicholas of the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

"We were first validated by VisitEngland in 2008 and this latest report shows that we have not only kept that validation but also improved on our services to members. It is fantastic that we are now officially recognised and endorsed by all five of the UK tourism agencies."

"The Green Tourism Business Scheme is unique in ensuring that independent auditors visit members at least once every two years to review practices, ensure standards are being maintained and to provide business owners with up-to-date advice on further improvements so the UK remains at the forefront of sustainable tourism."

"The scheme is now recognised as a world leader in promoting sustainable tourism with many of its pioneering ideas being adopted by similar schemes as far a field as Canada, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand."

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE