GSTC Announcement: Call for Accredited Certification Bodies for Destination

Transitional Destination Certification Policy (v.2.0)
DateTo
CC: July 5, 2023
: GSTC Accredited Certification Body for Destination: GSTC Assurance Panel Chair

1. Purpose
This document provides a short-term solution for occasional confusion between destinations andattractions. GSTC expects to reach greater clarity and a permanent solution on the distinction
between definitions for attractions and destinations during the process of developing GSTC
Attractions Criteria from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024.
Contacts: accreditation@gstcouncil.org

2. Change history
VersionnumberDate of release

Description of changes

1.0

19/05/2023

First announcement of Transitional Destination Certification
Policy04/07/2023

Amended expressions for clearer delivery of the eligibility forthe transitional destination certification. Removal of theinformation on the ineligible candidates to prevent
confusion. Addition of the effective date. Formattingchanges. Contact email address change.

2.0

3. Effective Date
This transitional destination certification becomes effective on 19 May 2023.

GSTC Announcement: Call for Accredited Certification Bodies for Destination
4. Eligibility for the transitional destination certification
Places/sites that include all the following elements will be eligible for Destination
Certification:● Expanse of natural or cultural resources that require stewardship (e.g., national park,wilderness, island, protected area, etc.);● Providing multiple tourist activities regardless of accommodation or community inside;and● Connecting tourist visits/activities with the surrounding economy in the case there is a
micro community that does not have much economic activities except their own living or
there is no community existing.
Note: The neighboring community will not be included in the geographical scope forcertification but will be audited to community relevant criteria of GSTC Destination Criteria.

5. Decision on the eligibility when there is a doubt:
If a CB cannot be sure if a client place/site is eligible for GSTC-D certification,● Submit an official request to the GSTC to review the place/site.
● The GSTC Secretariat (Assurance Team) will review the case.
○ If it requires further review, the Secretariat will bring it to the Assurance Panel.
● The result will be sent to the CB.
Note: The procedure for the review will be developed by the Secretariat.
6. Transition to the Attraction Certification● When the GSTC has the Attraction Certification Program, the certified places/sites under
this new policy will be reviewed whether they fit in the definition of attraction and will betransferred to the Attraction Certification, if proper.
● The CBs will make a separate list of the destinations certified under this new policy.

GSTC Announcement: Call for Accredited Certification Bodies for Destination
Annex A. Definition of destination for the transitional certification
GSTC uses the following two definitions;● A tourism destination is a physical space with or without administrative and/or analyticalboundaries in which a visitor can spend an overnight. It is the cluster (co-location) of
products and services, and of activities and experiences along the tourism value chain anda basic unit of analysis of tourism. A destination incorporates various stakeholders andcannetwork

toformlargerdestinations.

(https://www.gstcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/GSTC-Destination-Criteria-v2.0.pdf)● A destination is a geographical area consisting of all the services and infrastructurenecessary for the stay of a specific tourist or tourism segment. Destinations are thecompetitiveunits

criteria/glossary/)

ofincoming

tourism.

(https://www.gstcouncil.org/gstc-