Ace Jericho P.

Saniel TPC104 (8988)

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an organization that advocates

sustainable tourism practices worldwide. The GSTC has created a set of guidelines that
outline the principles and best practices for sustainable tourism to assist businesses
and destinations in achieving sustainability. These guidelines are divided into four
categories, namely sustainable management, socioeconomic, cultural, and
environmental (Global Sustainable Tourism Council, n.d.). In the next paragraphs, I will
further explain these, how this works, and why this should be followed.
The first criteria, the sustainable management pertains to the management of the
tourism business or destination, including planning, stakeholder engagement, and
monitoring and evaluation. Having an effective sustainability management system in
place is what sustainable management is. For example, a hotel that tracks its energy
and water consumption, issues regular reports on it, and works with locals to cut down
on waste would satisfy this criterion.
Second criteria, the socioeconomic category emphasizes the social and economic
impacts of tourism, including local employment, fair trade practices, and community
development. An example of this is a travel agency that treats its locals fairly by
providing them with living wages and only uses supplies from other businesses in the
area.
The third criteria, which is the cultural category, focuses on preserving and celebrating
cultural heritage, such as respecting cultural norms and traditions and safeguarding
cultural sites. Another example of this, if a travel site allows tourists to get to know the
locals and participate in meaningful ways in their lives, it is meeting this standard.
Lastly, the Environmental criteria category centers on the environmental effects of
tourism, such as energy and water conservation, waste management, and biodiversity
preservation. For example, If a tour company takes steps to reduce its environmental
impact, such as offsetting its carbon output, encouraging the use of environmentally
friendly modes of transportation, and funding conservation projects, then it meets this
criterion.
To exemplify the application of these criteria in practice, we can look at a small eco-
lodge in Costa Rica that has implemented these practices (Rainforest Alliance, n.d).

Sustainable Management
- The eco-lodge has created a sustainability plan that includes reducing energy and
water consumption and waste generation. It actively engages stakeholders like
employees, guests, and the local community to obtain their input and ensure their
participation in decision-making.
Socioeconomic
- The eco-lodge employs locals and utilizes locally sourced products to support the local
economy. It also backs local community development projects, such as a micro-finance
program for women entrepreneurs.

Cultural
- The eco-lodge respects local cultural norms and traditions while giving guests
opportunities to learn about the local culture and encourage partaking in cultural
festivals and events.

Environmental
-The eco-lodge employs renewable energy sources like solar panels and a small wind
turbine to power its operations. It has implemented a rainwater harvesting system and
uses biodegradable cleaning products to reduce its environmental impact. The eco-
lodge also supports conservation efforts in the surrounding forest, such as reforestation
and habitat restoration.

In conclusion, the GSTC criteria provide a framework for sustainable tourism practices
that can be applied in diverse settings. By adhering to these criteria, tourism industry
and destinations can ensure that their operations are environmentally, socially, and
economically sustainable. The example of the eco-lodge in Costa Rica showcases how
the GSTC criteria can be put into practice, leading to positive impacts for the local
community and the environment, ensuring a long-term sustainability of tourism industry.

REFERENCES

Global Sustainable Tourism Council. (n.d.). Criteria. Retrieved from

https://www.gstcouncil.org/criteria/

Rainforest Alliance. (n.d.). Sustainable tourism: A case study from Costa Rica.
Retrieved from https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-
tourism-a-case-study-from-costa-rica