GSTC joins the European Tourism Manifesto

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has joined the European Tourism Manifesto, an alliance of more than 70 European public and private organizations covering the whole tourism value chain and beyond.

Strategic Collaboration
- GSTC joins an alliance of 70+ European public and private organizations across the tourism value chain.
- The goal: strengthen resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of tourism in Europe.

Four Priority Areas
1. Decarbonization – advancing climate goals and reducing emissions.
2. EU Vision & Strategy – establishing a dedicated EU tourism strategy.
3. Connectivity & Borders – improving mobility, visa processes, and border efficiency.
4. Innovation & Adaptation – helping destinations and businesses adjust to changing conditions.

Policy Focus
- Competitiveness: smarter visas, fair competition, tax coordination.
- Digitalization: EU support for digital tools, transparency, multilingual access.
- Governance: coordinated EU tourism strategy, stakeholder involvement, transparent use of visitor taxes.
- Promotion: joint campaigns showcasing Europe’s diverse tourism offer.
- Seasonality: encourage year-round tourism, diversify destinations.
- Skills: recognition of tourism qualifications, lifelong learning, stronger industry-education links.
- Sustainability: climate action, responsible destination management, fair community benefits.
- Transport Connectivity: sustainable infrastructure, multimodal mobility, stronger rail and aviation systems.

GSTC’s Role
- CEO Randy Durband emphasized GSTC’s commitment to collaboration and compliance with sustainability verification standards.
- Their involvement reinforces the Manifesto’s push for inclusive, sustainable tourism policies at the EU level.

This move positions GSTC as a key voice in shaping Europe’s tourism future, ensuring sustainability is embedded in policy and practice.