Destination Canada’s aspiration is focused on generating wealth and well-being for Canadians while enriching the lives of guests, increasing business prosperity, strengthening socio-cultural vibrancy and lifting environmental sustainability.
Canada encompasses a vast expanse of diverse landscapes and rich history. Spanned by the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada’s terrain unfurls from the rugged peaks of the Rockies, through the expansive prairies, dense boreal forests, and along the rugged Atlantic coastline.
Destination Canada is committed to sustaining a premier four-season tourism economy that is regenerative in nature – supporting both the economy and the environment, and is continuously auditing and improving its systems and processes, and encouraging its partners across the industry to do the same.
Sustainability in Canada
Signing on to the GSTC is the latest in a series of actions designed to set Destination Canada on a path to becoming an example in sustainability across the industry. This builds on existing efforts and initiatives including the recent Destination Stewardship Symposium where global thought leaders within the industry and beyond gathered to discuss best practices and insights from both Canadian and international destinations that have successfully implemented intentional destination development and applied principles of regeneration and sustainability.
Additionally, Destination Canada’s Business Events Sustainability Plan is a national program aimed at improving the economic, socio-cultural and environmental sustainability practices of business events hosted in Canada. The plan includes coaching, training and education opportunities for domestic partners to advance their sustainability programs.
The ultimate goal of the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan is to help global clients develop business events with sustainability at their core — specifically for international association conferences, trade exhibitions, workshops and seminars, as well as corporate meetings and incentive group events. This will be achieved by collaborating with industry partners and destinations across the country to offer solutions that allow them to forge ahead in their sustainability efforts. Through the plan, partners will become empowered to act as stewards of sustainability in their communities.
“Becoming a member of the GSTC underlines our commitment to create and preserve a Canadian hosting sector that not only benefits the economy, but respects and protects the environment, social cohesion, cultural social sustainability and all communities across Canada”, said Marsha Walden, Destination Canada’s President and CEO. “We recognize our duty to serve as destination stewards and champions of sustainability, and we know the value and importance of a regenerative approach to tourism. We are committed to not only exploring, embracing and applying sustainable policies and practices throughout our organization, but to championing this across the industry. We look forward to the exchanges, learnings and increased accountability that will come from being members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.”
GSTC Welcomes Destination Canada
“We welcome Destination Canada as a member of GSTC and congratulate them on their commitment to sustainable tourism development. We believe that tourism, when nurtured with sustainability at its core, can be a potent force for positive change, playing a pivotal role in preserving both natural and cultural wonders, catalyzing local economic growth, and fostering cross-cultural connections and harmony. We hope this partnership will strengthen Destination Canada and their partners in their quest for a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving tomorrow,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
GSTC encourages destinations pursuing sustainability practices in tourism development and management to join as GSTC members and apply the GSTC Destination Criteria, which eventually can help achieve certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
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.
