NEW YORK -- The World Travel and Tourism Council on Tuesday unveiled
a rating system for travel companies based on their level of environmental
sustainability.
The Sustainable Travel & Tourism Partners (STTP)
initiative is being launched at the first WTTC Climate & Environment Action
Forum as part of a larger Sustainability Action Plan that WTTC plans to reveal in
tandem with the UN Climate Summit taking place this week in New York.
"If we don't have natural resources, we don't have
travel," said Gloria Guevara, CEO of WTTC. "We are part of the
solution. It's a priority."
The plan is aimed at driving sustainability and greater
transparency across the industry and to inform travelers looking to support
sustainable tourism. A logo will enable travel companies to indicate they are
recognized STTP partners.
"Today if a traveler is looking for a sustainable tour
operator there is confusion," Guevara said. "That's what we keep
hearing. There is no standard or there are many standards but not one across
the sector."
WTTC said the move is intended to increase sustainable
practices in travel and raise awareness of those practices with consumers as
well as with governments.
Every STTP applicant will need to commit to being climate
neutral by 2050. From there, they will be evaluated on their sustainability
engagement and commitment to make improvements where necessary and can achieve
recognition on three levels:
• Basic level: An elementary level of engagement with
sustainability, with a commitment to improve their practices.
• Certification level: Sustainability certification or
accreditation from a recognized body, such as GSTC, B-Corp or Earth-check.
• Best practice level: Accredited certification program but
also operating at the highest level of sustainability in the sector. To be
selected for this level, applicants will need to go through a rigorous judging
process.
WTTC stressed that the STTP initiative is not an
accreditation or certification program but "a global mark of recognition to
identify the partners' engagement and commitment to sustainability."