Global Sustainable Tourism Organisation Attacks Greenwashing, seeks Boss for Accreditation agency in Paris or Washington DC
In a recent job announcement, the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria umbrella organisation says that certification for sustainable tourism and ecotourism is expanding rapidly, with dozens of governments and scores of NGOs actively involved in developing new programmess, now with 130 “green” tourism certification programmes. It avers that the proliferation of certification schemes, combined with the limited access of small and medium enterprises to certification processes, has led to replication of efforts, false or unverified claims (“greenwashing”), and consumer confusion.
GSTC proposes that there is a need to make certification systems more credible and visible by fostering and ensuring conformity to globally-accepted criteria and standards, in particular the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
“In order for this diverse range of stakeholders to select and support sustainable goods, services and practices”, the organisation continues “There needs to be a global accreditation system to accompany general awareness raising, education and training activities on global, national and local scales. The Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC), as it has been envisioned and shaped over the past eight years, would be a transparent, international network that will agree on common standards for sustainability in tourism, monitor compliance with these standards, and promote the concept and practice of sustainable tourism to an ever-widening audience.”
“To further strengthen the capacity of this entity, and given its relationship with the GSTC Partnership, the STSC Temporary Executive Board together with the GSTC Partnership Steering Committee agreed that the two efforts should merge into one single body serving one overall purpose to promote sustainability in tourism. It is expected that the merger will be named the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC).”
“Once launched, it will serve as the international body for fostering the increased knowledge and understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. At the core of the proposed organization is a mission to improve tourism’s potential to be a driver of positive conservation and economic development for communities and businesses around the world and a tool for poverty alleviation.”
“The TSC Senior Consultant is going to assist in the implementation of the project “Harmonising standards and certification schemes on sustainable tourism through the establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council” and the successful launch of the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) scheduled to be launched in March 2010. “
The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria were launched last October by UNEP and the UN Foundation for Sustainable Development with the support of 32 major global tourism players with an interest in sustainable tourism; from Sabre, Expedia and the Rainforest Foundation to Tourism Concern.
Valere Tjolle
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