Sustainability certifications for tourism.
Achieving a sustainability tourism certification is a pivotal step for travel and tourism businesses aiming to enhance their environmental, social, and economic practices. Let’s explore the benefits of your tourism business becoming certified and how it assists travelers in making informed choices.
Why pursue a sustainability certification?
A few reasons to pursue a certification include:
Credibility and trust
Obtaining a recognized sustainability certification, such as those accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) or Travalyst establishes your business as a credible player in the responsible tourism market. Certification demonstrates your commitment to sustainable practices, which can significantly enhance your reputation among consumers who prioritize eco-friendly options.
Competitive advantage
In an increasingly eco-conscious market, sustainability certifications can distinguish your business from competitors. Certified businesses often enjoy enhanced visibility and marketing opportunities, which can lead to increased bookings and customer loyalty. Travelers are more likely to choose accommodations or tour operators that have been independently verified for their sustainability efforts.
Access to resources and expertise
Certification programs typically provide access to valuable resources , including training and feedback from experts in sustainable tourism. This support can help you identify areas for improvement and implement best practices within your operations. Regular audits ensure that your business maintains compliance with sustainability standards, fostering continuous improvement.
Alignment with global standards
Certification aligns your business with international sustainability criteria. This alignment not only enhances your operational practices but also contributes to broader goals like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Being part of a global movement towards sustainability can also attract partnerships and collaborations with other organizations committed to similar values.
Want to pursue a sustainability certification in tourism?
5 Steps to obtaining a sustainability certification for your tourism business:
1. Understand the certification options
Research various sustainability certification programs available for tourism businesses. Find one that aligns with your core business mission and vision.
Some notable options include:
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): Provides criteria for sustainable practices across various tourism sectors.
Green Key: Targets accommodations and attractions demonstrating a commitment to environmental management.
Targets accommodations and attractions demonstrating a commitment to environmental management.
Earthcheck: Helps tourism businesses and destinations become more sustainable through science-backed solutions. Their criteria is mapped to the United Nations SDGs and other international standards such as ISO14001, ISO50001, and the GSTC cr
Fairtrade Tourism: Their certification exhibits best practice in fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits, and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.
Ecotourism Australia: Offers certifications focusing on minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing community benefits.
Green Glode: Travel and tourism-specific certification that has 44 core criteria. The standard is reviewed bi-annually and requires continuous improvement. Each program has specific criteria and certification levels, so choose one that aligns with your business goals and operational model.
Not sure which certification to choose? BeCause has over 40 sustainability frameworks that can guide you to the best certification for your tourism business.
2. Assess your current practices and relevant areas of impact
Conduct a thorough assessment of your business’s current sustainability practices and identify areas that are relevant to your efforts. For example, some tourism businesses will have greater needs for fair and ethical labor practices, compared to others. Each business needs to decide what categories are material to its operations.
Consider evaluating:
Energy consumption: Identify areas for improvement in energy efficiency.
Waste management: Implement recycling and waste reduction strategies.
Community engagement: Determine how your business can better support local communities and cultures around your hotel or destination.
This self-assessment will help you understand where you stand and what improvements are needed to meet certification standards.
3. Develop a sustainability plan
Create a comprehensive sustainability plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and actions to improve your environmental impact.
Key components should include:
Environmental management plan: Detail how you will reduce energy use, manage waste, and conserve water.
Community involvement plan: Describe initiatives to engage with local communities and support cultural heritage.
Social development plan: How you plan to uplift and empower your local communities. Ensure that your plan aligns with the requirements of the certification program you have chosen.
Want a free guide to help you develop a sustainability plan for your data? Download one here.
4. Submit your application
Once your sustainability plan is in place, complete the application process for your chosen certification.
This typically involves:
Providing documentation of your sustainability practices.
Submitting your sustainability plans, required data and other relevant materials. Paying any associated fees.
After submission, an independent auditor will review your application through desk audits and possibly an onsite visit.
5. Maintain certification standards
Regularly updating your sustainability practices based on feedback from audits.
Renew your certification as required (often every two to three years).
Continuously engaging with local communities and improving operational practices.
Hand-picked by us, this collection of resources includes methods for collecting data, standardizing your reporting, understanding the EU taxonomy, new regulations explained, and so much more.
Your details
Need help getting certified?
BeCause has a tool to assist you in achieving certification.
Is your hotel new to sustainability?
Not ready to dive fully into achieving a certification?
Why not start with the Hotel Sustainability Basics? This World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) initiative aims to provide a standardized set of 12 essential sustainability indicators for hotels worldwide, serving as a foundational tool for properties to kickstart their sustainability journey.
For more insights into implementing effective ESG strategies tailored for your travel business, explore our resources or reach out to us today!
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