The Global Sustainable Tourism
Council (GSTC)
Recognition & Accreditation
Amos Bien
GSTC Technical Director
Richard Bradley
GSTC Accreditation Expert
GSTC 2nd Annual Meeting
Barcelona, 30 June 2011
The basics
Certification defined
• A voluntary procedure by which a facility,
product, process, or service is assessed, subject to
an audit, and issued a written guarantee stating it
meets specific standards. It grants a
“marketable” logo to those meeting or
exceeding basic standards.
Robert Toth
3
Associated activities
• Standardization consists of developing a
written norm or standard.
• Auditing determines whether or not a business
or activity meets the standard.
• Certification is the process of assessing
conformity to a standard and granting
recognition.
• Accreditation consists of certifying the
qualifications of the certifier.
• Consultancies prepare companies for their
certification.
4
Some characteristics of certification
1. Established Standard



All procedures should be clear and in writing.
The standard and its component criteria should be welldefined and in writing.
The standard should be made available to the general
public (although the document may be sold for an
accessible price).
2. Voluntary

Business participation is voluntary.
3. Credibility

Conformity with the standard should be verified by a
recognized unbiased entity.
5
Some characteristics of certification
4. Transparency



Mechanisms to define standards should be participatory.
The certification must be open to all qualified businesses or
activities within the scope of the standardConsultancy, auditing, and certifying are independent
processes without real or perceived conflicts of interest.
5. It grants a marketing seal or logo


Logo use should be controlled by the certifier.
Both the certifier and the certified business should use the seal
in their promotion.
6. Continuous improvement



In order to maintain the certification, a continuous
improvement process is desirable, by specification or through
different levels (e.g. 1-5 leaves; bronze, silver, gold, etc.).
A monitoring and evaluation system should be in place.
Businesses should be audited periodically to keep their
6
certification.
Limitations on the use of logos
• When certifying a service (i.e.
a hotel, a tour, or a travel
agency), its performance
should be assessed. In
promoting the product the
certification logo can and
should be used.
• When certifying a process (a
management system), such
as ISO 9000 or 14001,
promoting the service with the
certification logo or saying the
service is certified is not
allowed.
7
Stay in our rooms
certified with ISO
14001…
Accreditation
• Accreditation: third-party attestation
related to a conformity assessment body
conveying formal demonstration of its
competence to carry out specific
conformity assessment tasks (ISO/IEC Guide
17011)
• Accreditation body: authoritative body that
performs accreditation (ISO/IEC Guide
17011)
The problems and
solutions
Confusion in the marketplace
130+ certification labels
Little brand recognition or assurance of credibility
Most programs are small
and have little consumer recognition
Number of programs
Total = 43
18
Number of certifications
Total = 20,963
17
16
8000
7000
14
6000
12
5000
10
8
4000
8
3000
6
5
4
3
2
2
2
2000
3
2
1
0
1000
0
Program size
Program size
Brand recognition requires years
and a critical mass
• Blue Flag has certified 3,608 beaches and marinas,
and consumers recognize the brand.
• Energy Star (USA) has certified millions of products,
and consumers recognize the brand.
• End-consumer recognition required more than 10
years for these seals.
• There were more than13,638 certified tourist
businesses in 2007 and 20,963 in 2011, but most labels
have few certified businesses.
Intermediaries –wholesalers, internet portals,
large tour operators– already recognize
sustainable tourism certification, but want
assurance of credibility and a single
language.
Certification message
and credibility
• Message: Certification ensures quality,
safety, environmental protection, and
corporate social responsibility.
• Credibility: The certification standard and
processes comply with international and
local standards.
• Verification of credibility: The standard will
be recognized by the GSTC & the processes
accredited.
• Market penetration: There is a critical mass of
certified businesses and message promotion.
Problems and solutions
Problems
Solutions
Lack of common understanding of
sustainable tourism
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
provide a common operational
definition
Lack of recognition of standards
GSTC recognition of standards aligned
with the GSTC Criteria
Lack of credibility of certification
GSTC accreditation of certification
bodies with objectively credible
procedures
Lack of critical mass for consumer
recognition
GSTC market access program
The details
How do we ensure sustainability
& credibility?
GSTC recognizes credible standards
• The Global Sustainable Tourism Council
(GSTC) recognizes standards that are
aligned with the Global Sustainable
Tourism Criteria (GSTC Criteria).
• As an interim measure through 2013, the
GSTC will award “Working towards
Accreditation” (WTA) status to credible
certification bodies.
• The GSTC will approve
accreditation of credible
certification bodies.
17
Recognition and accreditation
Sustainable tourism standard and
conformity assessment scheme
Structure, resources and
processes
• A standard for sustainable
tourism enterprises
• Processes for updating the
standard
• Rules for operation (e.g. audit
frequency, treatment of nonconformities
Certification [conformity
assessment] body (CB)
Following certification scheme
rules for audit bodies, a CB issues
certificates to tourism enterprises
who conform to certification
scheme standards
GSTC requirements
• The standard must contain equivalent
clauses to GSTC’s standard
• Rules to update the standard when GSTC’s
standard is updated
• Rules for conformity assessment structure,
resources and processes
• Audit body rules must meet minimum
GSTC criteria, and any extra rules should
not contradict the GSTC’s rules
Accreditation requirements
• A GSTC approved accreditation body audits
each CAB to ensure they meet, at a
minimum, GSTC’s CB requirements.
• An interim approval as Working Towards
Accreditation (WTA) may be granted to
“grandfather” existing CBs.
If the they meet
GSTC
requirements, the
standard and the
conformity
assessment
scheme are
“Recognised” by
the GSTC
If the CB meets GSTC
requirements it is
“Accredited” by the
accreditation body
following GSTC
advice.
An accredited CAB following a GSTC recognised certification scheme will be licensed to use the GSTC logo
Certification meets its own standards
• The certification standard chosen by a business should
meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC).
The standard can cover more, but not less. It should be
adapted to local conditions and industry sector.
• The development of the standard should comply with
the ISEAL Code of Good Practice, ISO 59, and TBT
Annex 3.
• The certification process should follow the international
procedures of ISO/IEC Guide 65 (ISO DIS 17065) and
the GSTC accreditation procedures.
Credibility is thus ensured and market recognition
is facilitated.
GSTC Manual for Recognition
and Accreditation
DRAFT PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF GSTC
ACCREDITATION MANUAL FOR DISCUSSION AND
EVALUATION BY ACCREDITATION PANEL AND FOR
THE INFORMATION OF THE GSTC BOARD
CONTENTS
Principal changes:
 Procedures for recognition of standards are fully separated from those for
accreditation
INTRODUCTION
PART 1 The GSTC Standard for
sustainable tourism
PART 2 The GSTC GSTC
Accreditation
CERTIFICATION
SCHEME MANUAL
Criteria for Certification
Bodies
PART 3 The GSTC Recognition and
Accreditation Procedures

“Working towards Accreditation” status and procedures are fully described
Note to readers
This document is a work in progress. Explanations and comments can be found in call out
boxes like this one. Missing information may appear in green highlighter.
Requirements for GSTC recognition and
accreditation of sustainable tourism
certification programs
What happened to the title Accreditation Manual?
Now we have two stages, recognition and accreditation, it seems that a more generic title is
needed. All other programs talk about certification schemes, so that is what is used
Version Draft 1.0
Developing the accreditation procedures
• Aligned with internationally recognized processes
(ISO, ISEAL, IAF, WTO)
• Wide consultation (5 workshops – over 100
programs)
• Open consultation of manual – 2010
• Manual finalized (version 1) – January 2011
• Recognition of standards initiated – February 2011
• Manual redesigned to address Working towards
Accreditation – June-July 2011
The GSTC Recognition & Accreditation Processes
Three stage process:
1. GSTC evaluates a standard (certification,
verification, 3rd, 2nd, or 1st party) to
determine its equivalence with the GSTC
Criteria = RECOGNIZED STANDARD
http://gstcouncil.org/index.php?option=com_chronocontact&chronoformname=accreditation
2. Working Towards Accreditation (WTA)
3. GSTC, through an ISO 17011-compliant
accreditation body, accredits Conformity
Assessment Bodies (CABs) that use a
Recognized Standard = GSTC ACCREDITED
http://www.gstcouncil.org/images/stories/SupportDocs/gstcaccreditation%20manual_16feb11.pdf
What Is A Standard?
• A technical standard is a “document,
established by consensus and
approved by a recognized body,
that provides, for common and
repeated use, rules, guidelines or
characteristics for activities or their
results, aimed at the achievement of
the optimum degree of order in a
given context”. - ISO
2
3/
1
8
GSTC recognition process
return
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
37 criteria, 4 pillars.
Sustainability
Management
Social &
Economic
Cultural
Environmental
ISO-IEC Guide 65 (DIS 17065): General requirements
for bodies operating product* certification systems
• Demonstrated competence of
organization and auditors
• Legally established independent entity
• Impartiality committee
• Financial stability
• Cannot offer consultancies to certification
clients without a major impartiality firewall.
* According to the guide, services are “products”.
ISO-IEC Guide 67 (17067):
Conformity assessment -- Fundamentals of product certification
• Describes some of the activities of
product certification,
• identifies the basic elements and types
of product certification, and
• demonstrates ways to combine these
elements to design a system of product
certification.
March 18, 2016
Certification of services
According to IAF-GD5, Annex 1, to accredit
certifiers of services:
• The standard should
– comply with ISO Guide 7
– or equivalent (e.g. developed with the participation of
all interested parties and in consultation with them)
– include requirements for performance indicators
– include requirements for processes to ensure consistency
in the services offered.
• Direct observation of the service offered,
including “secret shoppers”
• Evaluation of internal controls,
including processes or management systems
Sample logo use
Where the GSTC is now
• GSTC is evaluating standards for recognition.
• GSTC is developing a program for CBs that
are working towards accreditation.
• GSTC is developing contracts for
Accreditation Bodies to accredit the certifiers.
• Accredited CBs and their certified businesses
will be able to use the GSTC logo and
participate in the market access program.
• Evaluate the real-world impact of
certification.
Timeframes
Task
Estimated start
Estimated completion
Accreditation manual,
version 1
July 2010
January 2011
Accreditation manual,
version 2
May 2011
July 2011
Guidelines for
recognizing standards
November 2010
January 2011
Standards recognition
February 2011
ongoing
WTA procedures
June 2011
July 2011
Contracting & training
accreditation bodies
Last quarter of 2011
ongoing
Awarding WTA status
Third quarter of 2011
December 2013
Awarding accreditation
First quarter 2012
(earlier for CABs with
national accreditation)
ongoing
One vision we can all embrace.
For more information:
Global Sustainable Tourism Council GSTCmember@unfoundation.org
Amos Bien abien@unfoundation.org
We organized the criteria into four actions
A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management
B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local
community and minimize negative impacts
C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize
negative impacts
D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize
negative impacts.
because:
•
•
•
•
•
they require doing something,
they are easy to understand,
they correspond to the well-known triple bottom-line, but are
less ambiguous,
the UNWTO 12 Aims can be easily mapped onto them,
structure successfully used by a number of modern
programs.
33
ISEAL Code of Good Practice
Setting Social and Environmental Standards v5.0
June 2010
ISEAL Code of Good Practice
for Setting Social and Environmental Standards
Based on, in part:
 ISO/IEC Guide 59:1994. Code of good practice for standardization.
 ISO/IEC Guide 14024:1999. Environmental labels and declarations - Type 1 environmental
labelling - Principles and procedures.
 WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Annex 3: Code of good practice for
the preparation, adoption and application of standards
Differences from ISO
 The social, environmental and/or economic objectives of a standard shall be clearly and
explicitly specified in the standard.
 Interested parties shall be provided with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the
elaboration of a standard. Standard-setting organizations shall identify parties that will be
directly affected by the standard and proactively seek their contributions.
 Constraints on disadvantaged groups to participate effectively in standard development shall
be addressed in the standard development process.
 Final international standards shall be placed in the public domain and, with the exception of
reasonable administrative costs, shall be made available for free in electronic format.
 Particular attention should be paid to the needs of developing countries and small and
medium-sized enterprises.
ISEAL Code of Good Practice:
General Themes




Transparency: all activities must be documented, a rationale
for decisions provided, and all documentation visible and
easily accessible.
Inclusion: a diverse group of stakeholders must be actively
sought and consulted, especially those parties affected by the
standard and including disadvantaged groups with hurdles to
participation.
Consensus: decisions should be made by consensus.
Confidence: Stakeholder engagement and agreement with the
process and the outcome must be trusted.
Consensus


General agreement, characterized by the absence of sustained
opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the
concerned interests.
NOTE – Consensus should be the result of a process seeking to
take into account the views of interested parties, particularly those
directly affected, and to reconcile any conflicting arguments. It
need not imply unanimity.
ISEAL Code of Good Practice v5.0, 2010.
Advance Documentation
Terms of Reference Development
 Includes a justification of the need for the standard and how it
will meet the need
 Documentation of other similar standards
 Objectives the standard seeks to achieve
 Assessment of risks associated with the standard
Public Summary & Work Program
 Brief document explaining the consultation process, the
standard being revised, and how to participate
 Membership requirements/selection criteria for relevant
working groups, the Council, and consultation participants are
outlines
Stakeholder mapping

Identify major interest sectors and key interested parties,
based on the standard’s objectives. Define:





which interest sectors are relevant and why,
what are likely to be the key issues for each sector,
who are the key stakeholders,
what means of communication will best reach them.
Include stakeholders with:



relevant expertise to the subject matter of the standard,
those that are materially affected by the standard
and those that could influence the implementation of the standard.
Stakeholder outreach



Key stakeholders shall be proactively approached to
contribute to the consultation.
Materially affected parties must make up a meaningful
segment of the participants.
Constraints on disadvantaged groups to participate effectively
in standards development and revision shall be addressed in
the standards development process.
Public consultation




Two rounds lasting no less than 60 days
Second round required if there are significant objections and/or
inadequate outreach to stakeholders
Language requirements should be taken into consideration where possible
Interested parties should have “meaningful opportunities to participate” in
each part of the process

Input should be allowed in a variety of formats and languages

The decision making process must be defined and must strive for consensus


Each comment must be considered and decision for inclusion or exclusion
justified
All comments and how they are addressed must be compiled, made public
and delivered to all commenters
Structure and Content








The standard will contain clear objectives that underpin a logical
framework
A hierarchy of knowledge should be implemented: objective, criteria,
indicator, verifier
The standard shall allow for monitoring and evaluation towards
achievement
Language should be unambiguous
Expression shall focus on performance rather than design
The standard must include and add value to current standards and
practices where possible, including attribution or citations where necessary
Guidance should be developed for the adaptation of the standard to
national, regional, or local levels
Organizations with related standards must be informed and included where
possible
Publication



All drafts of the standard should be published
promptly and for free
Hard copies should be made available on request
for as low a cost as possible
Translations should be provided where possible
Other ISO guides

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
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ISO/IEC Guide 2:2004 Standardization and related
activities -- General vocabulary
ISO/IEC Guide 7:1994 Guidelines for drafting of
standards suitable for use for conformity assessment
ISO/IEC Guide 14:2003 Purchase information on goods
and services intended for consumers
ISO/IEC Guide 15:1977 ISO/IEC code of principles on
"reference to standards”
ISO/IEC Guide 21-1:2005 Regional or national
adoption of International Standards and other
International Deliverables -- Part 1: Adoption of
International Standards
ISO/IEC Guide 21-2:2005 Regional or national
adoption of International Standards and other
International Deliverables -- Part 2: Adoption of
International Deliverables other than International
Standards
ISO/IEC Guide 23:1982 Methods of indicating
conformity with standards for third-party certification
systems
ISO/IEC Guide 28:2004 Conformity assessment -Guidance on a third-party certification system for
products
18 de marzo de 2016
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ISO Guide 47:1986 Presentation of translations of
ISO publications
ISO/IEC Guide 50:2002 Safety aspects -Guidelines for child safety
ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999 Safety aspects -Guidelines for their inclusion in standards
ISO/IEC Guide 53:2005 Conformity assessment -Guidance on the use of an organization's quality
management system in product certification
ISO/IEC Guide 59:1994 Code of good practice for
standardization
ISO/IEC Guide 60:2004 Conformity assessment -Code of good practice
ISO Guide 64:1997 Guide for the inclusion of
environmental aspects in product standards
ISO/IEC Guide 68:2002 Arrangements for the
recognition and acceptance of conformity
assessment results
ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001 Guidelines for standards
developers to address the needs of older persons
and persons with disabilities
ISO Guide 72:2001 Guidelines for the justification
and development of management system standards
Other ISO standards

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ISO/IEC 17000:2004 Conformity assessment -Vocabulary and general principles
ISO/PAS 17001:2005 Conformity assessment -Impartiality -- Principles and requirements
ISO/PAS 17002:2004 Conformity assessment -Confidentiality -- Principles and requirements
ISO/PAS 17003:2004 Conformity assessment -Complaints and appeals -- Principles and
requirements
ISO/PAS 17004:2005 Conformity assessment -Disclosure of information -- Principles and
requirements
ISO/IEC 17011:2004 (Replaces Guide 61)
Conformity assessment -- General requirements
for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity
assessment bodies

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




18 de marzo de 2016
ISO/IEC 17020:1998 General criteria for the
operation of various types of bodies performing
inspection
ISO/IEC 17024:2003 Conformity assessment -General requirements for bodies operating
certification of persons
ISO/IEC 17030:2003 Conformity assessment -General requirements for third-party marks of
conformity
ISO/IEC 17040:2005 Conformity assessment -General requirements for peer assessment of
conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies
ISO/IEC 17050-1:2004 Conformity assessment -Supplier's declaration of conformity -- Part 1: General
requirements
ISO/IEC 17050-2:2004 Conformity assessment -Supplier's declaration of conformity -- Part 2:
Supporting documentation
ISO 14024:1999 Environmental labels and
declarations -- Type I environmental labelling -Principles and procedures