Time to debate sustainable tourism criteria

We have several concerns about the recently proposed Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Read our views below and sign our petition.

To The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria Steering Committee, We are writing to you with concerns regarding your plans to establish Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. We believe that a 'one size fits all' approach to sustainable tourism is not the answer either in terms of offering consumers a useful point of reference, or indeed in the future advancement of responsible tourism within the industry. We believe the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria approach to be fundamentally flawed. Specifically - No process of certifying hotels can produce a sustainable tourism experience because of the range of activities undertaken on holiday and the impacts of different types of consumer. The tourist is not merely a consumer, they too have impacts. The criteria are no more than a ‘wish list’ – there is no measure and the outcomes are not reportable. The certification process is opaque. The customer does not know what has been achieved and cannot take any action about failures even if they did. The criteria are many and varied and not ranked. Furthermore they fundamentally fail to recognize that what might be a significant issue in one destination might be less important in another and there is no apparent effort within the scheme to overcome this weakness. There is no evidence that sustainable tourism certification is effective (or the best way) to increase the market share of businesses that adopt it. Until now, we believe there has been no adequate, open debate on this subject. We believe that now is the time to properly discuss these issues. We hope you'll agree on the necessity of this debate. Best, Justin Francis - MD, responsibletravel.com Harold Goodwin - International Centre for Responsible Tourism   To start the ball rolling, you can... Read our latest concerns about these criteria Read Justin's view in full Read Harold's view in full Read more about the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

Add your support by signing our online petition: Dear Justin and Harold, I agree that further debate on the global sustainable tourism criteria or accreditation scheme is needed. Yours sincerely, Name (and company if applicable): Email:  Untick box if you don't want further information from responsibletravel.com Add your opinion We want to hear your stories and opinions of global accreditation schemes. Leave a comment in our forum Supporters who have already signed our petition: Harold Goodwin, International Centre for Responsible Tourism Justin Francis, MD, responsibletravel.com Xavier Font, International Centre for Responsible Tourism Kate Moore, responsibletravel.com Jonathan Vaughan Jeremy Levitsky, responsibletravel.com Raj Gyawali, Social Treks & Social Tours Inga Jirgensone James MacGregor, ecoplan:net Kristine von Denffer Dr Graham Miller, University of Surrey, UK Ian and Kate Morton, Hickatee Cottages Caroline Tempest Alison Brookes Day, responsibletravel.com Roger Budden, Real Places Ltd Chris McHugo Mark Chapman, TESFA (Ethiopia) Katie Fewings, ethicalweddings.com Richard Skinner, Director, responsibletravel.com Libby James, Director Village-to-Village Alex Lyons, responsibletravel.com Angie Pantall Krissy Roe, responsibletravel.com Dana Sarham Marc Baudouy Sallie, People and Places Rebecca Armstrong Maurizio Davolio AITR and EARTH aisbl Rachel Kennedy Emilie Hagedoorn Ron Mader, Planeta.com Laura McGowan, International Centre for Responsible Tourism Canada Helen Lani Gamble, CHE, CTA Heidi Keyser (EDGE Tourism Solutions) Daniel Villagrán Quidamtur SLL Prateek Kalia, Himalayan Outdoors Private Limited Alberto Ceretti, Lo Spirito del Pianeta Viaggi Ermes.net, www.ermes.net Manuela Bolchini, IL SOGNO DIVERSO Nick Stewart, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Holly Fraser Rebecca Thewlis Charlie Lewis Gary Brabon Chris Warren, climate change campaigner Zachary Rozga (CEO, WHL Consulting) Andrea Nicholas, Green Tourism Business Scheme Abhishek Behl Louise Dixey, ICRT Sally Broom, tripbod / yoursafeplanet Barbara Neeb-Bruckner (FH Eberswalde) Adrian Cordiner (whl.travel) Lindsay Wratten Paul Iacobas, apuseniexperience.ro Tumqini University - Tanzania Shaun Gilchrist, Urban Adventures CESHI Nombulelo Mkefa, City of Cape Town Paul Peeters (NHTV Breda) Andres Hammerman, Black Sheep Inn Ecolodge Christian Baumgartner, Naturefriends International ICRT Belize Shirley Eber Stephen Nattrass, OzBus Uk Ltd Gina Staqggs (WHL.travel) Sarah White, The Tree House Hostel Aimee Epp, Tourism British Columbia Gary Brabon Roland van der Harst Sallie Grayson, People and Places Anil Rajmehta Aaron Jennings Claudine Nagiah Claire Southern, responsibletravel.com Robert Birse Murtaza Kalender, Travel Shop Turkey Shanane Davis, Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary Jayne Stocks, Sheffield Hallam University Camelia Tepelus, Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct Alex Narracott, muchbetteradventures.com Ashwell Glasson, BirdLife South Africa Frans de Man, Retour Foundation Claudia Bosch, University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt Ali, Curio Travel