Certification and Standards
Certification and Standards
What is Certification?
Certification programs in the tourism industry serve as important tools for distinguishing genuinely responsible companies, products, or services from those that are merely using "eco-" or "sustainable" as a marketing tool to attract consumers.
Ecotourism Handbooks on Certification
These handbooks were developed collaboratively by TIES, Rainforest Alliance and the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, based on a 4-year research project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank's Multilateral Investment Fund. While particularly relevant to the Americas, the handbooks incorporate examples from around the world, as well as lessons learned from certification programs in other industries.
Available in English and Spanish, the handbooks illustrate how to advance tourism certification as a useful and reliable tool for travel consumers and businesses, and provide practical information on how tourism certification works, what funding mechanisms and resources can assist businesses seeking certification, how to effectively market and finance certification programs.
Handbook I (User's Guide)
- A Simple User's Guide to Certification for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism (pdf)
- Una Guia Simple Para La Certificacion Del Turismo Sostenible Y El Ecotourismo (pdf)
Handbook II (Funding)
- Practical Steps for Funding Certification of Tourism Businesses (pdf)
- Pasos Practicos Para Financiar La Certification De Empresas Turisticas (pdf)
Handbook III (Marketing)
- Practical steps for Marketing Tourism Certification (pdf)
- Pasos Practicos Para Mercadear La Certificacion Turistica (pdf)
Handbook IV (Financing)
- Practical Steps for Financing Tourism CertificationPrograms (pdf)
- Financiamento De Programas De Certificacion (pdf)
*If you're interested in learning more, please consider joining TIES to access our eLibrary and other member resources.
Reports: Sustainable Tourism Certification & Standards
The following reports are available for download from TIES eLibrary.
*Access to TIES eLibrary is limited to TIES members. If you're not yet a member and would like to learn more about member benefits, please review member levels and benefits here.
- Guiding Organisations Australia's National Tour Guide Accreditation (October 2006) By Rick Murray
- UNEP Consultative Meeting on Sustainable Tourism Certification (February 2006) by Alice Crabtree
- Green Globe 21 Ecotourism Standard (February 2006) by Alice Crabtree
- Critical review of certification and accreditation in sustainable tourism governance by Xavier Font
- Nature-Based Tourism and Ecotourism Accreditation in Tasmania, Australia by Matysek and Kriwoken
- Designing & Marketing an Eco-Certification Program (December 2003) by Boulden, Escudero, and Weiss
- Protecting Paradise: Certification Programs for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism (October 2001) by Martha Honey and Abigail Rome
Latest News and Articles on Certification
Criteria for Sustainable Destination
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has announced the release of their Criteria for Destinations. The criteria are a set of guiding principles and performance indicators designed to lead destination managers, communities, and businesses on a path to sustainability: maximizing social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits while minimizing negative impacts. The Destination Criteria complement the existing GSTC Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators.
The GSTC is inviting industry stakeholders to participate in the public...
Eco-Certified Vacations in Alaska, Galapagos, Sweden, Patagonia
Vienna, Virginia/United States, February 15, 2012 - Sustainable travel trail blazer Greenloons announces the addition of Alaska and Galapagos cruise companies as well as land operators in Sweden and Patagonia, all eco-certified by qualified third parties, to its growing list of resources for travelers seeking sustainable vacation options.
Irene Lane, Greenloons founder, said the "green travel" market is estimated to be growing 5% annually worldwide, representing 6% of the world's GDP and...
Peterson Control Union Green Choice Sustainable Tourism Standard is the first Green certification approved by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RVA)
Lima, Peru, January 20, 2012 - With the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Commerce, José-Luis Silva, Inkaterra received the First International Certificate in Sustainable Tourism given by CU Green Choice Sustainable Tourism Standard. During the ceremony, the Minster highlighted the importance of the award given to a Peruvian tourism organization such as Inkaterra, which focuses on ecological conservation since 1975. He...
South facing windows over the entrance flood the central atrium with natural light. (Photo Credit: CNSC)
By Mary Kuhner
Celebrating 35 years of research and education at the edge of the Arctic, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) recently cut the tape on its state-of-the-art 27,000 square-foot facility. In keeping with its mission to understand and sustain the North and to live sustainably on the fragile tundra, the new building - with arching wooden interior ribs - has been aptly dubbed "the upside down ark" by locals. On track to obtain...
El Remanso Lodge Receives "Five Leaves"
El Remanso Lodge (Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica) has been awarded with the "Level 5" of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), a rigorous certification program by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) that evaluates tourism companies' sustainability practices in natural, cultural and social resource management. CST is regulated by the Costa Rican National Accreditation Commission and consists of a scale of 5 levels of sustainable tourism achievements.
This is the highest possible rating and El Remanso has...
Photo: Lennart Pittja
Sápmi Experience Quality Label
Tourism activities under the Sápmi Experience Quality Label are based on the common heritage of the Sámi. Sámi tourism must be sustainable over the long term. This means that tourism must be accepted and established, culturally and socially, in Sámi society, and the host must be able to communicate Sámi values and way of life. Sápmi Experience operators strive for social, cultural, ecological and commercial sustainability. They are companies that respect the integrity of the S...
HONOLULU – With the goal of encouraging more "green" tourism statewide, the Hawai‘i Ecotourism Association (HEA) today announced that 14 companies (list below) have earned the distinction of being Hawai‘i’s first-ever Certified Ecotour Operators.
"We applaud these 14 ecotourism companies for their commitment to environmental sustainability and urge other tourism providers throughout Hawai‘i to follow their lead," said Chris Colvin, HEA president.
HEA developed the ecotourism certification program, the first in Hawai...
Bardessono's Environmental Commitment
Bardessono has received the highest level of official recognition possible for its sustainable and environmentally friendly design. At Bardessono we have chosen to act on our environmental values. We believe that making progress on environmental issues comes, in part, from developing working models that provide examples to follow. Our model demonstrates two things: A hotel can provide a fully luxurious guest experience and be very green at the same time, and environmental initiatives can be implemented in a manner that is practical, economic...
For Bardessono Inn and Spa, being a green hotel is a conscious choice that does not interfere with the commitment to providing a fully luxurious guest experience.
The hotel, designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest standard for environmental design, strives to be as transparent as possible in communicating its environmental initiatives.
"Along with many around the world my concern over global warming and environmental degradation has continued to grow. I have become increasingly...
By Rick Murray, Manager, Savannah Guides
Guides of Australia, a national tour guide accreditation program to provide a benchmark for all tour guides in all sectors of the industry in Australia, was released in June 2006 by the Guiding Organisations Australia (GOA).
Guides of Australia ensures best practice in services to tourists visiting Australia, and provides visitors with an assurance that a guide has met specific standards and has a commitment to the best practice standards outlined in the Australian Tour Guides' Code of Guiding Practice. The accreditation is...
