The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that the Adventure Green Alaska Standards for Accommodations and for Tour-Operators have achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status. Adventure Green Alaska began in 2007 as a statewide effort to grow sustainable tourism in Alaska and promote model businesses practicing economic, environmental and social sustainability. It is Alaska’s only sustainable tourism certification program and was created entirely by volunteers. The program came under the Alaska Travel Industry Association in 2015, whose goal was to grow the program
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that the Adventure Green Alaska Standards for Accommodations and for Tour-Operators have achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status.
Adventure Green Alaska began in 2007 as a statewide effort to grow sustainable tourism in Alaska and promote model businesses practicing economic, environmental and social sustainability. It is Alaska’s only sustainable tourism certification program and was created entirely by volunteers. The program came under the Alaska Travel Industry Association in 2015, whose goal was to grow the program in Alaska and increase the programs credibility through the development of a new level of standards, AGA Summit, that meet the GSTC Criteria for tour operators and accommodations.
Achieving the GSTC-Recognized status means that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel and deemed equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. Additionally, an organization that meets GSTC requirements must administer the standard.
“We commend the Alaska Travel Industry Association for taking sustainability seriously, including the development of the Adventure Green Alaska program,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO. "We’re pleased that the standards driving that program comply with the GSTC Criteria and as such have formally gained GSTC-Recognized status.”
Sarah Leonard, ATIA’s President and CEO, welcomed the achievement. “Alaska’s visitors come to Alaska to see our wild landscapes, mountain scenery, glaciers, and wildlife in their natural habitats and experience Alaska’s rich native cultures. The GSTC recognition is a vote of confidence in the AGA program’s efforts to promote sustainable management practices – environmental, cultural, social and economic choices as part of business practice.”
“The GSTC recognition for the Adventure Green Alaska will help grow the program with more businesses interested in receiving this type of certification for their business, Leonard said. This recognition lends credibility with consumers when visitors are choosing their experience in Alaska.”
To date, 11 destination standards, and 32 hotels and tour operators standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The completion of these step-wise programs rewards standard owners for their commitment to sustainability while offering the market a proof that these standards adhere to international norms.
The GSTC will continue to work with organizations around the world to provide GSTC Recognition of standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria.
GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to complete the Accreditation process which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practice, transparent, and rigor. Learn more about GSTC Accreditation.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
