Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said it now offers 1,400 tours
that have been certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
That exceeds RCCL's initial goal of providing 1,000
certified tours by 2020.
Chartered by the United Nations, the GSTC sets a lengthy
list of criteria that qualifies tours to be certified as sustainable. The
criteria include low or no impact on plants and wildlife, cultural sensitivity,
and energy and water conservation.
RCCL said it worked with its existing tour operators to
educate them about the company's commitment, the importance of certification,
and what the certification process entails.
GSTC CEO Randy Durband called RCCL's efforts to "a
watershed moment for the cruise industry."
"Having almost 1,400 tours in Royal Caribbean's
portfolio is an important milestone, and we congratulate them for their ongoing
efforts," Durband said.