• As systems of voluntary regulation in the tourism industry (like certification systems, eco-labels, awards and prizes, environmental management systems, codes of conduct, etc.) are proliferating, and following a recommendation of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-7), UNWTO conducted a world-wide evaluation study. This study aimed at identifying similarities and differences among voluntary initiatives, finding out the factors that make them effective and successful in terms of sustainable tourism development. The publication with the research findings, as well as a CD ROM with the detailed description of the voluntary initiatives included in the study is available at:

Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism:
Worldwide Inventory and Comparative Analysis of 104 Eco-labels, Awards and Self-Commitments

• UNWTO has been assisting its Member States, recognizing the pivotal role of governments in certification systems. After conducting a survey among UNWTO Member States considering the feasibility of a Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council, and following the recommendation of the UNWTO Committee on Sustainable Development of Tourism, at its 3rd Session held in Costa Rica, September 2002, the Organization prepared a set of guidelines for Governments on certification systems for sustainable tourism.
   
• The UNWTO Recommendations to governments for supporting and/or establishing national certification systems for sustainable tourism emphasizes the role of governments in establishing and coordinating multi-stakeholder processes for certification systems, gives orientations for developing certification criteria, and on the following operational aspects:

· Application
· Verification
· Awarding of certification
· Consulting, advisory and technical assistance services
· Marketing and communication
· Fees and funding

• UNWTO organized a series of regional conferences on sustainability certification in tourism to bring together stakeholders from the different sectors, stimulate and reinforce national and regional processes, and to exchange of experiences:

Sustainability Certification of Tourism Activities - Regional Conference of the Americas
Sauípe, Bahía, Brazil, 29-30 September 2003

UNWTO Asia-Pacific Conference on Sustainability Certification of Tourism Activities
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11-13 December 2003

UNWTO Regional Conference for Europe on "Public Private Partnerships for Sustainability Certification of Tourism Activities"
Mariánské Lázne, Czech Republic, 17-20 October 2004

• Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and Council (GSTC)

Coalition of 80 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. UNWTO, UNEP and the UN Foundation are Permanent Members of the Board of Directors.

Criteria: set of common guidelines created with the input of experts and companies from around the planet, defining sustainable tourism in a way that is actionable, measurable and credible. They set a minimum standard of sustainability for tourism businesses across the globe.

More details, ordering of publications

Download PDF

Download PDF: 

WTO Recommendations to governments for supporting and/or establishing national certification systems for sustainable tourism

brasilfinal-rep-esp.pdf

kualalumpurfinrep.pdf

czechfin-rep.pdf

• Programme
• UNWTO
• Sustainable Development of Tourism