GreenLagoon & its Certificate of Sustainable Tourism CST 3

The concept of sustainability

The development of sustainable tourism must be seen as the balanced interaction between the use of our natural and cultural resources, the improvement of the quality of life among the local communities, and the economic success of the industry, which also contributes to national development. Sustainable tourism is not only a response to demand, but also an imperative condition to successfully compete now and in the future. (Definition of Sustainable Tourism, CST, 1997)

Sustainability, as a model of development, seeks to meet the current demands of society without compromising the rights of future generations to meet theirs. That is to say, the development of the country cannot be based on the unbalanced exploitation of resources (natural, cultural, social, etc.) to meet the demands of society (food, housing, health, employment) because these are the only resources we have, and that future generations have, to meet our and their own needs.

 

Certification for Sustainable Tourism

 

The CST's fundamental purpose is to make sustainability a practical and necessary reality within the context of the country's competitiveness in tourism, while looking to improve the way that natural and social resources are used, encourage the active participation of local communities and provide a new source of competitiveness within the business sector.

 

What is 100% responsible tourism?

 

• It is the type of tourism that the country needs.
• It is efficient operations that promote conservation and efficient use of resources.
• It is tourism that is committed to the community and its needs, seeking dedication and solutions for the environment.
• It is the certification of all tourism businesses that must be dedicated to carrying out conservation measures and handling risks to nature appropriately.

 

Benefits

 

CST promotes efforts that benefit us and support the country..

 

Unlike the tourism industry of our competitors, the CST represents a new form of competitiveness which encourages a tourism product that is sustainable, thereby opening new possibilities in the industry and international marketing.

 

In addition to marketing support from the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, the CST certified business can use the label as a key sales point in their promotions. Besides making operations more efficient under this system, it also encourages the conservation and efficient handling of resources. This has a positive impact, not only on the quality of the product, but also on cost-benefit ratios.

 

What benefits will the CST certified business see?

 

The CST certified business will benefit from the marketing strategies put forward by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute because the CST label is linked to its campaign in the country.

 

CST certified businesses will enjoy complete or partial exemption from registration fees to international fairs.

 

The CST label can be used in its marketing promotions to identify them as sustainable, adding a new element in promoting its product.

 

The CST certified business will be listed on the web site www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr, available in Spanish, English, and French.

 

• www.sustainable-tourism.co.cr
• www.turismo-sostenible.com
• www.sustainabletourism-cst.com
• www.visitecostarica.com

Such businesses will see improvements in the efficiency of their operations when they implement these recommended practices. For example, using technologies to conserve energy will improve the product in terms of sustainability, as well as significantly reduce billing for such services

 

Satisfaction

 

CST protects against the inconsistent practices of some companies that operate as "green washers" (businesses that abuse the concept of "eco" or "sustainability") by providing valuable information about businesses that truly make efforts to offer a sustainable tourist product and those that don't.

 

This strengthens the image of the country as an authentic environmental destination, considerably raising the competitiveness of the national tourist product.

 

Each time you see the CST label on an establishment or tour operator agency, you will know:

 

• The business takes measures to avoid emissions, harmful products and pollution.
• It implements conservation and natural risk reduction measures.
• The business efficiently handles waste that it produces.
• It uses natural, biodegradable, and recyclable products.
• It has a water and electrical energy conservation program.
• It encourages you to experience the country's natural wealth and insists on its care and conservation.
• It employs and trains neighboring communities where it operates.
• It promotes the traditions and customs of the country, as well as typical food and national handicrafts.
• It limits the size of its tours, and encourages among its clients, wholesalers, and suppliers, the principles of sustainability.
• It offers its clients the opportunity to participate in conservation and communal development initiatives.
• It continually trains its staff in matters of quality and sustainable tourism.
• It complies with norms that the tourist establishment must uphold in terms of the environment, wildlife, archeological heritage, and social guarantees of the country.
• It promotes the traditions and customs of the country, as well as typical food and national handicrafts.
• It complies with norms that the tourist establishment must uphold in terms of the environment, wildlife, archeological heritage, and social guarantees of the country.

 

"CST promotes actions that benefit us and support the country."

 

Certification For Sustainable Tourism

 

The development of sustainable tourism involves the balanced interaction between the appropriate use of our natural resources and culture, the improvement of the quality of life within our local communities, and the economic success of our industry, which leads to overall national development. All this is possible in Costa Rica, thanks to the CERTIFICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM (CST).

 

The CST label was developed by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute with the goal of making the idea of sustainable tourism a reality, and the only way to complete in this century. History has taught us that a quality tourist destination is created, not only by improving the most visible factors of the industry, such as hotels, gastronomy, and marketing, but also by improving the security, attractions, environment, local communities, and training, among others. A strong infrastructure leads to healthy tourism and balance in the economy, society, and environment, thereby opening new possibilities to gain a competitive edge in attracting the most important player: the tourist.

 

What Does The CST Do?

 

It is a program that categorizes and certifies tourism businesses, with the goal of demonstrating sustainability within their operations. In order to achieve this, the following fundamental factors are evaluated:

 

- Physical and biological relationship:

 

The CST evaluates the interaction between the business and the surrounding natural environment, and seeks to implement sustainable policies and programs, like the protection of the environment, among others.

 

- Internal processes and practices of lodging establishments:

 

Aspects are evaluated related to the business's internal processes and systems with respect to waste management and technologies used to conserve electric energy and water.

 

- Management services-Tour operator agencies:

 

This involves the process by which, the business takes into consideration all internal and external elements of the tourist product in accordance with market tendencies and particular aspects of the country and communities where the operations are set up.

 

- The client:

 

Efforts that management takes to encourage the client to participate in the implementation of the business's sustainability policies are evaluated.

 

- Socio-economic realm:

 

Identification and interaction of the business with developing communities are evaluated, by looking at, for example, the degree to which tourism establishments respond to growth and development in the region, by generating employment and results that positively benefit the collective whole.

 

Sustainability Levels

 

CST regulations evaluate businesses within a structured system on a scale of 1 to 5. The process of integration and sustainability that businesses face at each level leads to a model company in terms of sustainability.

 

CST: A vaild and credible label

 

The National Accreditation Commission of the CST, composed of the academic sector, private business, the public sector, and two international organizations, is responsible for granting CST distinction and making sure that certified businesses that advertise the label comply with the established guidelines. This way, tourists as well as those agents working with CST-certified businesses, can be certain that such businesses adhere to managerial ideals of social, corporate, and most importantly, sustainable responsibility.

 

The National Accreditation Commission is comprised of the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the National Institute of Biodiversity, the University of Costa Rica, the Central American Institute of Business Administration, the National Tourism Chamber, the Earth Council and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria were developed as part of a broad initiative managed by The Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership), a coalition of over 40 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles.

The Partnership was initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Sustainable tourism is on the rise: consumer demand is growing, travel industry suppliers are developing new green programs, and governments are creating new policies to encourage sustainable practices in tourism. But what does “sustainable tourism” really mean? How can it be measured and credibly demonstrated, in order to build consumer confidence, promote efficiency, and fight false claims?

The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria are an effort to come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism, and will be the minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach. They are organized around four main themes: effective sustainability planning; maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community; enhancing cultural heritage; and reducing negative impacts to the environment. Although the criteria are initially intended for use by the accommodation and tour operation sectors, they have applicability to the entire tourism industry.

The criteria are part of the response of the tourism community to the global challenges of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. Poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability – including climate change – are the main cross-cutting issues that are addressed through the criteria.

Beginning in 2007, a coalition of 27 organizations – the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – came together to develop the criteria. Since then, they have reached out to close to 100,000 tourism stakeholders, analyzed more than 4,500 criteria from more than 60 existing certification and other voluntary sets of criteria, and received comments from over 1500 individuals. The Sustainable Tourism Criteria have been developed in accordance with the ISEAL Code of Best Practice, and as such will undergo consultation and receive input every two years until feedback is no longer provided or unique.

Some of the expected uses of the criteria include the following:

• Serve as basic guidelines for businesses of all sizes to become more sustainable, and help businesses choose sustainable tourism programs that fulfill these global criteria;
• Serve as guidance for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and sustainable tourism programs;
• Help consumers identify sound sustainable tourism programs and businesses;
• Serve as a common denominator for information media to recognize sustainable tourism providers;
• Help certification and other voluntary programs ensure that their standards meet a broadly-accepted baseline;
• Offer governmental, non-governmental, and private sector programs a starting point for developing sustainable tourism requirements; and
• Serve as basic guidelines for education and training bodies, such as hotel schools and universities.

The criteria indicate what should be done, not how to do it or whether the goal has been achieved. This role is fulfilled by performance indicators, associated educational materials, and access to tools for implementation, all of which are an indispensable complement to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

The Partnership conceived the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria as the beginning of a process to make sustainability the standard practice in all forms of tourism.

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

A.        Demonstrate effective sustainable management.

• A.1.   The company has implemented a long-term sustainability management system that is suitable to its reality and scale, and that considers environmental, sociocultural, quality, health, and safety issues.
• A.2.   The company is in compliance with all relevant international or local legislation and regulations (including, among others, health, safety, labor, and environmental aspects).
• A.3.   All personnel receive periodic training regarding their role in the management of environmental, sociocultural, health, and safety practices.
• A.4.   Customer satisfaction is measured and corrective action taken where appropriate.
• A.5.   Promotional materials are accurate and complete and do not promise more than can be delivered by the business.
• A.6.   Design and construction of buildings and infrastructure:

1. oA.6.comply with local zoning and protected or heritage area requirements;
2. oA.6.respect the natural or cultural heritage surroundings in siting, design, impact assessment, and land  rights and acquisition;
3. oA.6.use locally appropriate principles of sustainable construction;
4. oA.6.provide access for persons with special needs.

• A.7.   Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to customers, as well as explaining appropriate behavior while visiting natural areas, living cultures, and cultural heritage sites.
• B.1.    The company actively supports initiatives for social and infrastructure community development including, among others, education, health, and sanitation.
• B.2.    Local residents are employed, including in management positions. Training is offered as necessary.
• B.3.    Local and fair-trade services and goods are purchased by the business, where available.
• B.4.    The company offers the means for local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products that are based on the area’s nature, history, and culture (including food and drink, crafts, performance arts, agricultural products, etc.).
• B.5.    A code of conduct for activities in indigenous and local communities has been developed, with the consent of and in collaboration with the community.
• B.6.    The company has implemented a policy against commercial exploitation, particularly of children and adolescents, including sexual exploitation.
• B.7.    The company is equitable in hiring women and local minorities, including in management positions, while restraining child labor.
• B.8.    The international or national legal protection of employees is respected, and employees are paid a living wage.
• B.9.    The activities of the company do not jeopardize the provision of basic services, such as water, energy, or sanitation, to neighboring communities.
• C.1.   The company follows established guidelines or a code of behavior for visits to culturally or historically sensitive sites, in order to minimize visitor impact and maximize enjoyment.
• C.2.   Historical and archeological artifacts are not sold, traded, or displayed, except as permitted by law.
• C.3.   The business contributes to the protection of local historical, archeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and does not impede access to them by local residents.
• C.4    The business uses elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage in its operations, design, decoration, food, or shops; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.
• D.1.   Conserving resources

B.     Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.

C.    Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts.

D.    Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

1. oD.1.Purchasing policy favors environmentally friendly products for building materials, capital goods, food, and consumables.
2. oD.1.The purchase of disposable and consumable goods is measured, and the business actively seeks ways to reduce their use.
3. oD.1.Energy consumption should be measured, sources indicated, and measures to decrease overall consumption should be adopted, while encouraging the use of renewable energy.
4. oD.1.Water consumption should be measured, sources indicated, and measures to decrease overall consumption should be adopted.

• D.2.   Reducing pollution

1. oD.2.Greenhouse gas emissions from all sources controlled by the business are measured, and procedures are implemented to reduce and offset them as a way to achieve climate neutrality.
2. oD.2.Wastewater, including gray water, is treated effectively and reused where possible.
3. oD.2.A solid waste management plan is implemented, with quantitative goals to minimize waste that is not reused or recycled.
4. oD.2.The use of harmful substances, including pesticides, paints, swimming pool disinfectants, and cleaning materials, is minimized; substituted, when available, by innocuous products; and all chemical use is properly managed.
5. oD.2.The business implements practices to reduce pollution from noise, light, runoff, erosion, ozone-depleting compounds, and air and soil contaminants.

• D.3.   Conserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes

1. oD.3.Wildlife species are only harvested from the wild, consumed, displayed, sold, or internationally traded, as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilization is sustainable.
2. oD.3.No captive wildlife is held, except for properly regulated activities, and living specimens of protected wildlife species are only kept by those authorized and suitably equipped to house and care for them.
3. oD.3.The business uses native species for landscaping and restoration, and takes measures to avoid the introduction of invasive alien species.
4. oD.3.The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.
5. oD.3.Interactions with wildlife must not produce adverse effects on the viability of populations in the wild; and any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized, rehabilitated, and there is a compensatory contribution to conservation managemend