The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

Recognition and AccreditationCathy Parsons and Amos

Bien

GSTC membership meeting Barcelona 2011

GSTC Accreditation Panel

• Role is to develop rules, procedures, and manuals to operate recognition of standards and accreditation of certifiers.

• Independent in their decision making role• Actual and potential conflicts of interest

closely managed• Members are experienced in standards

and conformity assessment

• Accreditation - “Certify the Certifiers”– Adherence with the GSTC – RECOGNIZING STANDARDS– Adherence to recognized international processes– Financial long term sustainability– Ability to deliver on their claims

• Developing the accreditation procedures– Aligned with internationally recognized processes (ISO, ISEAL,

IAF, WTO)– Wide consultation (5 workshops – over 100 programs)– Open consultation of manual – 2010– Begin accreditation – 1st quarter 2011– Begin interim accreditation process – 3rd quarter 2011 – Marketing of certified services – 4th quarter 2011

Ensuring credibility

How do we ensure sustainability & credibility?

Recognition

• A certification scheme owner compares their sustainable tourism standard against the GSTC criteria, and if they think it is equivalent, may apply for GSTC recognition

• The standard can cover more, but not less• The certification scheme owner also must

meet criteria such as having wide stakeholder involvement when writing standards and having standard review processes

• GSTC’s Accreditation Panel reviews the application, and if appropriate recognizes the standard and the certification scheme owner

Accreditation

• A third party certification body must conform to the rules for certification bodies, which must include all GSTC requirements for certification bodies

• Rules for certification bodies are aligned to international standards

• An accreditation body approved by the GSTC Accreditation Panel will audit the certification body to check that the certification body follows the rules

• Once accredited, the certification body can issue tourism operators with certificates of conformity against a GSTC recognized standard

• The tourism operator can use the GSTC’s marks

Working Towards Accreditation

• As a short term measure, certification bodies can be awarded “working towards accreditation” status by the GSTC Accreditation Panel

• The certification body will need to be actively working towards gaining accreditation within agreed timeframes

• The GSTC will periodically audit the certification body while they are working towards gaining their accreditation

• Tourism operators who are certified by working towards accreditation certification bodies may not use the GSTC marks

• GSTC is evaluating standards for recognition. • GSTC is developing a program for CBs that

are working towards accreditation.• GSTC is developing contracts for

Accreditation Bodies to accredit the certifiers.

• Accredited CBs and certified businesses will be able to use the GSTC logo and participate in the market access program.

• Evaluate the real-world impact of certification.

Interim steps

One vision we can all embrace.

For more information:Global Sustainable Tourism Council

GSTCmember@unfoundation.orgAmos Bien abien@unfoundation.org