The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has selected Machu Picchu corridor in Peru, and the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, and Frutillar in Chile for the second round of its pilot programme to test the new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations. These new Early Adopters are the first South American destinations to participate, stated a release.
The GSTC’s Criteria for Destinations, overseen by GSTC’s Destination Working Group and managed by Sustainable Travel International, its NGO partner, are designed to orient destination managers, communities, and businesses towards the steps that are needed to sustain their natural and cultural assets, while benefitting local communities. The Destination Criteria complements the existing GSTC Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, which have become the worldwide sustainability standard for tourism businesses.
Destination management organisations in Peru and Chile will help to test and provide feedback on the Destination Criteria. They will be joined by a select group of additional destinations to be announced in the coming weeks. Early adoption of