WORLDWIDE: The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has opened the public consultation for tourism industry stakeholders to have a say on its latest accreditation manual.
The GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification of Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator v.4.0 will offer a comprehensive guide for organisations seeking accreditation, and looking to promote sustainability in tourism practices.
The manual covers both the requirements of and accreditation processes to be implemented by GSTC, and for certification bodies, the certification processes they shall implement and the requirements and process for their accreditation.
The main revisions on the previous version are as follows.
Risk Factors: Risk factors and risk levels have been either replaced or clarified and the responsibility of certification bodies has been emphasised.
Remote Audit: Based on risk assessment and previous audit results, the GSTC suggests a wider usage of remote audit approaches.
Auditor Qualification: The GSTC has improved the qualification requirements to ensure better qualified GSTC auditors.
The public consultation began on December 29th, 2023 and will run for 100 days ending on April 6th, 2024.
Anyone can participate and have their say by visiting the GSTC website and reviewing documents including the Draft of the Accreditation Manual for Certification of Hotel/Accommodation & Tour Operator 4.0 and the Revision Trackers.
There is also an online survey which users can fill in to provide feedback and suggestions.
To learn more about the difference between certification, accreditation, and recognition click here and Read our FOCUS ON article on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to get a lowdown on the part it plays across the worldwide hospitality industry.
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