The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has recognised Costa Rica?s continuous effort in developing sustainable tourism.
The GSTC-Recognised status means that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel and has been provided with Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). The recognition further strengthens Costa Rica?s position as a global leader of sustainability. The country produces nearly 99% of its electricity from renewable resources, and has harboured more that 6.5% of the world?s biodiversity. Costa Rica also aims to become one of the first countries to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The CST was created by the Costa Rica Tourism Board in 1997 to provide guidelines for hotel properties and service providers to adopt a business model with sustainable tourism practices. It is supported by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
More than 400 tourism companies across Costa Rica are CST-certified. The scheme is valid for two years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all certificates will remain in place until January 2021, to support businesses; as long as companies keep up with their standards.
Costa Rica?s tourism minister Gustavo Segura Sancho said, ?As global leaders in sustainability, we are very pleased to receive GSTC?s recognition for the Certification of Sustainable Tourism Standard. The CST is the result of the public and private sector?s collaborative efforts to recognise tourism companies for their sustainable practices.?
?CST is a well-established certification programme with a clever scheme of market incentives for participating businesses,? said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
For more information visit: www.visitcostarica.com/uk
