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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is delighted to confirm that “Green Hotel Plus” and its Thai counterpart (Green Hotel Plus) have been awarded GSTC-Recognized Standard status. This designation confirms their alignment with the GSTC Industry Criteria.
For more than a decade, the Environmentally Friendly Hotel Project (Green Hotel), under the aegis of Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), has endeavored to boost the resource efficiency and environmental stewardship of Thai hotels, preparing them for international environmental standards.
The progression of the Green Hotel Standards, marked by Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, aims at enhancing sustainability efforts and diminishing the ecological footprint of the hotel industry in Thailand. It encompasses an eco-conscious service policy that engages both staff and executives, and includes training to cultivate expertise and proficiency among employees. Initiatives also include educational public relations efforts targeting both staff and guests, and procurement strategies that minimize environmental degradation. Emphasis is also placed on sustainable resource utilization, efficient waste management, and community engagement.
The enhanced GSTC-Recognized Green Hotel Plus Standard and its Thai iteration expand upon these efforts. They incorporate additional guidelines on management, staff welfare, child and animal protection, and also focus on the quantification and mitigation of carbon emissions. This aligns with the DCCE’s strategic goals to help Thailand reach Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero by 2065, aiding Thai hotels in their transition from national to global sustainability benchmarks.
The GSTC-Recognized status applies specifically to the standard, indicating that it has undergone a thorough review by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel, and has been found to be on par with the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. This acknowledgment is rooted in the four foundational pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic impacts, Cultural impacts, and Environmental sustainability.
It is important to note that GSTC Recognition of Standards pertains solely to the standard itself, and not to the certification process, which involves a third-party audit of a tourism enterprise’s compliance with the standard. Similarly, GSTC Recognition does not equate to accreditation, which is a formal assurance that a certification body is competent and impartial, adhering to internationally recognized certification standards.
The scope of this recognized standard is specifically for hotels operating within Thailand, and the recognition remains valid until any changes are made to either the standard itself or the GSTC Industry Criteria.
“Green Hotel Plus represents an important step in consolidating existing programs in Thailand to create greater clarity in the marketplace. A Thai solution aligned with the global GSTC Criteria,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
“Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environment is proud to announce the successful elevation of the Thai Green Hotel standards to international levels. During the past year, in collaboration with the EU SWITCH ASIA Tourlink Project, the Department has developed an advanced criteria for environmentally friendly hotels, known as Green Hotel Plus. As a result, for the first time in Thailand, a national, sustainable hotel standard has been recognised by the GSTC. This recognition will motivate Thai hotels following the Thai Green Hotel program to meet world-class environmentally and socially friendly standards, gaining acceptance from eco-conscious tourists and tour operators. This recognition also promotes the development of sustainable production and consumption patterns, towards Thailand’s and the DCCE’s mission to achieve the SDG’s, and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change by achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065,” says Dr. Pirun Saiyasitpanich, Director of the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE).
“Most Thai hotels which are engaged in certification are members of national, Thai programs. The new, Green Hotel Plus standard gives over 800 hotels a clear pathway from national to international best practice standards, and an opportunity to scale up best practices. It has been a pleasure to work alongside committed colleagues, with the generous support of EU SWITCH ASIA,” says Mr. Peter Richards, EU SWITCH ASIA Tourlink Project Manager.
To date, 73 standards have been acknowledged with GSTC-Recognized status. This recognition serves as verification that these standards conform to international norms. While GSTC Recognition does not validate the reliability of the certification process itself, it ensures that the standards used for certification meet international criteria. Owners of GSTC-Recognized standards are urged to pursue and complete the accreditation process to ensure that their certification methods are aligned with global best practices, transparency, and rigor.
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