Tag Archives: Global Sustainable Tourism Council

Six Senses has received the highest level of certification by Control Union – a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Six Senses properties underwent an extensive audit by Control Union to verify their efforts in sustainability planning, reducing negative environmental impacts, enhancing cultural heritage, and maximizing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities. Jeff Smith, Vice President of Sustainability, Six Senses shares, “GSTC Certification is a mark of trust and credibility in sustainability. While this certification is issued globally, it marks a proud moment for our individual Six Senses properties included in this certification and their sustainability teams, who work proactively to provide uncompromising hospitality, environmentally cognizant operations, an outstanding guest experience, and high levels of engagement among colleagues and the local community.” The GSTC Certification is a respected seal of sustainable travel and tourism, offering an antidote to “greenwashing” in the hospitality industry. The extensive certification criteria aim to give credibility to sustainability claims, ensuring they are both measurable and can be upheld through meaningful action. Certification is based on third-party audits of hotels and corporate processes by accredited auditors, and is granted for a period of three years, providing a continuous commitment to improvement and accountability. Six Senses Vana, a pioneering wellness retreat nestled in the Himalayan foothills, has made significant contributions to achieving this prestigious certification, embracing sustainability as a core value since its inception. The GSTC certification further validates Six Senses Vana’s efforts to minimize environmental footprint, preserve cultural heritage, and cultivate meaningful connections with the local community, thereby marking a proud moment in its long-standing sustainability journey. Jaspreet Singh, General Manager, Six Senses Vana, added, “The recent GSTC certification is a testament …

MakeMyTrip has become a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).  Vipul Prakash, COO, MakeMyTrip, said, “We look forward to working closely with GSTC to help accelerate understanding and adoption of sustainable tourism practices in the country.”

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) will conduct a training programme on sustainable tourism in Delhi on April 27-28, 2018. The two-day interactive programme is designed for travel and tourism industry professionals interested in learning about sustainability best practices for businesses and destinations. The training covers tourism as a tool for sustainable development, sustainability best practices and the GSTC criteria for tourism sustainability, as well as key topics such as global trends in sustainable tourism, sustainability marketing, and sustainable tourism product development and management. Green Dreams for the Planet (GDP) is the training partner for India for GSTC. The training will be conducted by CB Ramkumar, Board Member of the GSTC and Chair of the Education & Training Working Group of the GSTC. He is also the Country Head for India and the Regional Representative for South Asia. Ramkumar says, “At the end of the training, a Certificate of Completion will be given to all who have completed the two-day training. This certificate will then make the participant eligible to earn the ‘GSTC Certificate in Sustainable Tourism’ after they take and pass the online examination. The exam fee is US$75 per person and participants will have to register separately for the exam.”

C.B. Ramkumar, India Country Representative, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has now been appointed to the GSTC Board, along with two new members: Dr. Rosemary Black and Dr. Ioannis Pappas; and three returning board members: Dr. Kelly Bricker, Chi Lo, and Melinda Watt. Ramkumar said, “The game-changing potential for the GSTC standards to tourism in India matches the development agenda of the Indian government and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. The conversations around tourism in general and sustainable tourism in specific should now shift. The tourism sector with its immense potential for employment generation, skill building, and adding to the GDP of the nation, needs an institutional framework for sustainable development, and GSTC provides this.” His appointment as the country representative for India will provide GSTC with a platform to work closer with a vast country like India, which has a demographic advantage with its youth, who now need to be provided with sustainable employment opportunities. Suman Billa, Joint Secretary of India Ministry of Tourism, said, “Guiding tourism on to sustainable platforms is an important imperative for India. We have beautiful destinations, hotels and resorts across the country. We are in the process of setting up an institutional framework and structure to facilitate this. With C.B. Ramkumar becoming a Board member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, I am confident that India’s efforts towards this would be suitably augmented. We look forward to working with the GSTC.” Ramkumar has been an active GSTC member, serving formerly on the GSTC Election Committee. He has also been appointed as the Chair for the Training & Education Working group and the Lead Trainer for South Asia.