Baseline criteria

Mohonk Agreement (2000) - http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=mohonk

Strengths
riteria remain !alid
"asis for most certification programs since
2000
#artial $asis for %&-'() indicators and
$aseline criteria for the *mericas
+ood $alance $etween specific and general
learl, distinguishes $etween sustaina$le
tourism and ecotourism certification
)pportunities
an $e reconsidered and e!aluated
alongside more recent documents for
$aseline criteria for S(S.
'eaknesses
&ot updated since 2000 - has $een
replaced $, more recent documents
.ecent documents include additional
criteria/ such as greenhouse gas emissions
&ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation
0nformal document
(hreats
1ore recent documents could displace and
discard !alua$le criteria/ especiall, for
differentiating ecotourism from sustaina$le
tourism.
UN-WTO Indicators for Sustainable Tourism Certification (2002) - Indicators of Sustainable
Development for Tourism Destinations/ 0S"& 32-422-0526-7. www.world-tourism.org.
Strengths
)fficial %&-'() document
"ased on S(S feasi$ilit, stud,/ 1ohonk/
0S) 82022/ 90S0(/ ()0/ and :ont and
"endell (2002) compilation of $asic
criteria.
(wo different t,pes of indicators:
8. certification program procedures
2. en!ironmental/ sociocultural/ and
economic criteria
)pportunities
an $e reconsidered and e!aluated
alongside more recent documents for
$aseline criteria for S(S.
'eaknesses
0ncomplete criteria for effecti!eness
;as not $een widel, accepted
.ecent documents include additional
criteria/ such as greenhouse gas emissions
&ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation
(hreats
1ore recent work on indicators for 1<=
of certification programs is more precise
UN-WTO ! aims for sustainable tourism in Making Tourism More Sustainable: a Guide for Policy
Makers http://www.wtoeli$rar,.org/rps!/>ournal/pu$lication3242204280?home.htm
Strengths
)fficial %&-'() document
Supported $, .ainforest *lliance and other
organi@ations
Aesigned as a guideline for pu$lic polic,
"road general criteria that are easil,
understood
Strong emphasis on sociocultural and
economic criteria
"reaks out of the traditional framework of
triple $ottom-line
)pportunities
=Bpected to $e used as a framework for
S(S proposed criteria
Suita$le for re!iew of large num$er of
certification programs for %&: pro>ect
'eaknesses
)riented towards go!ernments for polic,
implementation/ not pri!ate sector
&ot designed as guidelines for certification
programs
&ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation
(hreats

Baseline Criteria for the Americas - http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=network

Strengths
"ased on eBisting/ field-tested criteria in
use $, most certification programs in the
*mericas
*rri!ed at $, formal consensus of
certification program mem$ers of
ertification &etwork of the *mericas
)pportunities
=Bpected to $e used as a framework for
S(S proposed criteria
'eaknesses
=Bcessi!e detail in criteria
(oo man, (44) criteria in total
Aoes not consider climate change or
greenhouse gas emissions
&ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation
(hreats
Cikel, to $e su$stantiall, modified when
eBpanded for worldwide applica$ilit,
"ISIT Standard - www.!isit28.net/90S0(?ke,?criteria.html
Strengths
"ased on eBisting/ field-tested criteria in
use $, most important certification
programs in =urope
.eDuires mutual recognition
Strongl, $ased on performance
measurements
)pportunities
=Bpected to $e used as a framework for
S(S proposed criteria
'eaknesses
;as no specific en!ironmental/ social/ or
economic criteria.
"ased on program design and procedures/
rather than sustaina$le tourism criteria.
(hreats
)pposed $, some =uropean programs
#rinci$al certification standards in use in the %orld
Hotels
World%ide
&reen &lobe ! com$an' standard (&&!) is an international standard applica$le to tourism
$usinesses/ acti!ities/ and destinations worldwide. 0ts programs include $enchmarking followed
$, certification - www.greenglo$e.org
Strengths
'orldwide program/ esp. *sia/ =urope/
ari$$ean
+enerall, accepted as of high Dualit,
0ncludes o$ligator, $enchmarking
0ncludes o$ligator, auditing
an $e applied to all sectors of tourist
industr,
0ndependent auditors can $e accredited
an,where
Sliding scale of costs
9ersion E has reduced audit costs
)pportunities
ould $e eBpanded to rest of world
*ppropriate for %&: pro>ect
'eaknesses
'eak sociocultural criteria
.eDuires at least 2 ,ears for certification
ompliance can $e difficult and !er,
eBpensi!e for smaller $usinesses
*udit reDuirements tend to $e !er,
eBpensi!e in remote areas
9ersion E has reduced audit reDuirements
Still carr,ing $aggage of poorl, designed
!ersion 8/ although this was corrected long
ago.
(hreats
&ot widel, accepted where local
certification programs eBist that are
adapted to local conditions
Seen as competition to local programs
&reen &lobe ! International *cotourism Standard (I*S) is a +reen +lo$e program for
certif,ing ecotourism acti!ities worldwide. - www.greenglo$e.org/page.aspB?page?id=802
Strengths
Same strengths as ++28 compan, standard
Specific ecotourism criteria
:or accommodations/ tours (not tour
operatorsF)/ and attractions
)pportunities
)ne of !er, few ecotourism standards in
eBistence/ so has little competition
'eaknesses
Same weaknesses as ++28 compan,
standard
9er, few trainers (2) and auditors
9er, few certified $usinesses (E)
(hreats
&ot widel, known
Sustainable Tourism *co-Certification #rogram (ST*#) - tour operators/ accommodations/
attractions/ transportation www.sustaina$letra!elinternational.org/documents/op?steplearn.html
Strengths
Ae!eloped in colla$oration with &S:/ with
strong eBperience in standards
de!elopment
*d>usted to different si@e $usinesses
8-7 star le!els
2-step process/ with $aseline for
$enchmarking performance
0ndependent audits
Sliding scale of fees
)pportunities
&ew program that might achie!e wide
recognition
'eaknesses
&ew program with few certified $usinesses
=Bceedingl, high num$er of criteria
ompleB standard
(hreats
ompetes with national programs and
+reen +lo$e
ISO +,,
Strengths
'idel, accepted and well-known
international standard
*uditors are found worldwide
)pportunities
ould $e implemented in an, countr,
'eaknesses
)nl, e!aluates =1S
&o performance criteria or $enchmarking
&o sociocultural criteria
#rocess tends to $e !er, eBpensi!e in most
countries
Cogo cannot $e to indicate as product
certification
&o compara$ilit, $etween certified
$usinesses
(hreats
0mproper use for hotels in Spain could
threaten credi$ilit,
*uro$e
"ISIT standard members- (he 90S0( *ssociation (9oluntar, 0nitiati!es for Sustaina$ilit, in (ourism)
consists of se!en ecola$els ($ased in the &etherlands/ 0tal,/ Aenmark/ Cat!ia/ %nited Gingdom/
Swit@erland and CuBem$ourg) that together represent o!er 2/000 participating tourism enterprises.
www.!isit28.net/90S0(?=cola$els?Cinks(o=cola$els.html
&reen Tourism Business Scheme (U.) was de!eloped in 8334 $, 9isitScotland ((he
Scottish &ational (ourist "oard). 0t has o!er 300 $usinesses in Scotland ranging from
croft houses and distiller, !isitor attractions in the Scottish 0slands/ to the =din$urgh
0nternational onference entre/ ma>or sporting estates and hotels as well as famil, run
self-catering cottages/ ,outh hostels/ !isitor attractions and $ed and $reakfasts. *ll
$usinesses must meet a rele!ant Dualit, standard (star rating). (he scheme is $eing
adopted in =ngland with 800 mem$ers in ke, destinations in Ae!on/ the =ast of =ngland/
"lackpool and the &orth 'est. (here are E le!els of awards/ "ron@e for good practice/
Sil!er for $est practice and +old for o!erall eBcellence in en!ironment and sustaina$le
practices. http://www.green-$usiness.co.uk
Strengths
9er, high acceptance $, pri!ate sector
Support $, municipal go!ernments
Carge num$er of certified $usinesses
0ncreased occupanc, documented $,
certified $usinesses
)pportunities

'eaknesses
Standard is not pu$licl, a!aila$le
:ew social or communit, criteria
(hreats

Ibe/-label (S%it0erland) allows Swiss hotels and restaurants to show their engagement
for all sustaina$ilit, responsi$ilities: en!ironment/ staff and the entire societ, as well as
economic results. * hotel is distinguished with up to 7 i$eBes. :ifteen hotels in siB Swiss
cantons ha!e $een awarded E/ 2 or 7 i$eBes to date. (hese hotels encompass $oth
traditional EH to 7H hotels as well as hotels which are strongl, oriented towards
ecological issues. *ll of them - according to the la$elled le!el - care $oth for the guestIs
well-$eing as well as for nature and societ,. http://www.oe-plus.ch
Strengths
)ne of the strongest =uropean programs in
communit, support
)pportunities
ould $e used as model for social criteria
in other =uropean programs
'eaknesses
9er, few $usinesses certified
1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria
(hreats

&reen .e' (1rance 2 3enmark4 also has absorbed Milieubarometer - Netherlands)5

run $, :== since 2007. Since 8332/ (he +reen Ge, has $een awarded to hotels/ ,outh
hostels/ holida, cottages and camping sites. Since 2008/ +reen Ge, has $een awarded to
esta$lishments in =stonia/ +reenland and Sweden. http://www.laclef!erte.org
Strengths
:ocus on accommodation and restaurants
)perated $, highl, credi$le :== ("lue
)pportunities
+reen Ge, enlarging throughout =urope
:lag)
#erhaps more JrealisticJ regarding the
criteria than =%-:lower
Carge num$er of certified $usinesses
'eaknesses
Cess demanding than =%-:lower
Some strange criteria
(hreats

6egambiente Turismo (Ital') Since 8335/ when the certification s,stem Krecommended
eco-friendl, hotelsL was first launched in the $athing resort of .iccione/ Cegam$iente
(urismoIs scheme has $een steadil, growing. 0n 2002/ 832 hotels and 26 other
accommodation $usinesses (totalling o!er 27.000 $eds)/ 22 $athing esta$lishments and
20 camping sites along the coasts/ mountains and cities-of-art in 0tal, were awarded
Cegam$iente (urismoIs eco-la$el with the well-known +reen Swan logo. 0ts criteria
include a $etter use of water and energ, resources/ reduced waste production/ good local
cuisine and $reakfast choice of organic ingredients/ tips to help !isitors $ecome
acDuainted with the local culture and natural en!ironment/ and c,cle hire.
http://www.legam$ienteturismo.it
Strengths
Carge num$er of certified $usinesses
)pportunities

'eaknesses
omplies with onl, 6 of the 22 criteria
proposed
Standard has onl, 80 general criteria and
80 criteria for each region
(hreats

&reen 7olida's (6at8ia) Since 8333 the green certificate has awarded rural tourism
esta$lishments in Cat!ia such as countr, homes !acation cottages guesthouses and
camping sites com$ining en!ironmental Dualit, with a high standard of ser!ices.
http://www.eco.celota>s.l!
Strengths
#romotes rural tourism
)pportunities

'eaknesses
9er, few sociocultural or communit,
criteria/ which is unusual for rural tourism
certification.
omplies with onl, 3 of the 22 criteria
proposed
(hreats

Official *uro$ean Union $rograms

*MAS II5 the =uropean adaptation of 0S) 82008/ with specific performance criteria - www.emas.de
Strengths
.un $, =% M national competent $odies
*!aila$le for all t,pes of tourism
$usinesses/ser!ices
0ncludes all sustaina$ilit, issues
)pportunities

(en!ironment = must/ social = possi$le

(our packages annuall, checked
'eaknesses
&o sociocultural or communit, criteria
(hreats

*uro$ean Union *colabel (*U 1lo%er) for accommodation $usinesses certifies tourist accommodation
ser!ices and camping sites throughout the =uropean union/ as well as other countries in =urope. (he
we$site has useful information for interested $usinesses/ including a self-check instrument.
http://ec.europa.eu/en!ironment/ecola$el/indeB?en.htm
Strengths
.un $, =% M national competent $odies
Some o!erlap with =1*S
:ocus on performance indicators
Some optional criteria related to social
issues
Some $ig hotels are certified in =urope
)pportunities
ould harmoni@e with 90S0( and other
programs in =urope
'eaknesses
'idel, disliked $, pri!ate sector
&o sociocultural or communit, criteria
1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria
(hreats

*uro$ean regional or national certification or ecolabeling $rograms

The Nordic S%an 6abel (Mil9:m;rkning a8 hotel) http://www.s!anen.nu
Strengths
&ordic Swan has high consumer
recognition and credi$ilit, in other
industries
=cola$el (certifies onl, the $est in
industr,)
Scandic ;otels (hotel chain)
;as solid indicators for en!ironmental
criteria
)pportunities
ould $e eBpanded $e,ond Scandina!ia
'eaknesses
&o sociocultural or communit, criteria
1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria
(hreats

Blaue Sch%albe (Blue S%allo%) - www.!ertraeglich-reisen.de

Strengths
%sed in se!eral countries
)pportunities

'eaknesses
Second-part, certification of its suppliers
omplies with onl, 6 of the 22 criteria
proposed
'ill onl, certif, $usinesses that it can put
in its catalogue
(hreats

"IABONO (+erman,) - www.!ia$ono.de

Strengths
Carge num$er of certified $usinesses
Solid en!ironmental criteria/ with some
concern a$out landscaping impacts
)pportunities

'eaknesses
Second part, certification
#ri!ate/ for-profit organi@ation
(hreats

Austrian *colabel (Um%elt0eichen f<r Tourismusbetriebe) - www.umwelt@eichen.at

Strengths
9er, specific en!ironmental criteria
)pportunities

'eaknesses
&o sociocultural or communit, criteria
1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria
(hreats

*l 3istinti8o - Spain (ataluna) also ha!e some large hotels certified

http://mediam$ient.gencat.net/eng//empreses/ecoproductes?i?ecoser!eis/inici.>sp
Strengths
.un $, competent $od,
9er, specific en!ironmental criteria
olla$orates with =% :lower
)pportunities

'eaknesses
&o sociocultural or communit, criteria
1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria
(hreats

Nature=s Best (Sweden) certifies hotels/ tour operators/ and indigenous tourism -
http://www.natures$est.nu/
Strengths
Strong stakeholder in!ol!ement $,
indigenous people
Strong go!ernment support
"est sociocultural and communit, criteria
of all =uropean programs
)pportunities
1ight $e eBpanded to other northern
=uropean countries
'eaknesses
1issing some ke, en!ironmental criteria
riteria are adapted to $oreal conditions
(hreats

Americas
Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST)/ osta .ica - http://www.turismo-
sosteni$le.co.cr/=&/home.shtml
Strengths
1ultiple le!els com$ines $est of ecola$el
and standard certification
+ood weighting on all aspects of triple
$ottom line
)pportunities
ould easil, $e used as ke, factor for
promoting countr,
Ae!eloped with good stakeholder
participation
:ree of charge - no fees or audit charge
Supported and operated $, go!ernment
tourist $oard
+ood credi$ilit,
*lso a !ersion for tour operators
'eaknesses
;as not $een updated since 8336
&on-standard organi@ation
Aoes not consider greenhouse gas emission
Cong inter!als $etween recertifications can
lead to non-conformities that damage
credi$ilit,
:reDuent $ureaucratic paral,sis
Shortage of auditors
Cimited to osta .ica
(hreats
Cack of successful pu$licit, threatens
$usiness satisfaction with program
&reen 3eal5 &uatemala - www.greendeal.org/home.html
Strengths
=!aluates sustaina$ilit, and Dualit,
+o!ernment recognition
Ae!eloped with strong communit,
participation
Su$>ect to annual pu$lic consultation and
re!iew
Cow fees
)pportunities
=Bpansion to neigh$oring countries
("eli@e/ =l Sal!ador/ ;onduras)
'eaknesses
Strongl, oriented towards small $usinesses
)perates with a su$stantial annual financial
loss
(hreats
Aependent on donations for sur!i!al
Smart"o'ager5 *cuador is managed $, onser!aciNn , Aesarrollo/ an =cuadorian citi@ensO group that
carries out $oth research and integrated conser!ation and de!elopment pro>ects in a num$er of rural
communities. Smart9o,ager awards its green seal of appro!al to $oats operating in the +alapagos 0slands
that meet a set of strict conser!ation standards. - http://www.smart!o,ager.org/
Strengths
ertifies $oats in +alapagos and lodging
throughout =cuador
Supported $, )&+s and =cuadorian
go!ernment
)pportunities

'eaknesses
"usiness owners consider that some
criteria ha!e little rele!ance to o$>ecti!es
(hreats

#rograma de Certifica>?o em Turismo Sustent@8el (#CTS)5 "ra@il

http://www.pcts.org.$r/pu$pcts/cgi/cgilua.eBe/s,s/start.htm?sid=86
Strengths
#ossi$l, most ad!anced sustaina$le
tourism certification program in world
omplies with all recommended criteria
*ppro!ed after pu$lic consultation
"ra@ilian national !oluntar, standard
)pportunities
ould $e used as $asis for other standards
worldwide
'eaknesses
&o certified $usinesses to date
(hreats

Asia-#acific
*coCertification (N*A# III)5 *ustralia/ is the pioneer program in the world in ecotourism certification.
0t also forms the $asis for the 0nternational =cotourism Standard (0=S) of +reen +lo$e 28.
www.ecotourism.org.au/eco?certification.asp
Strengths
)ne of the oldest certification programs in
world
9er, strong standard
ertifies ecotourism
Carge num$er of certified products
Su$stantial go!ernment incenti!es relati!e
to access to protected areas
)pportunities

'eaknesses
Aoes not certif, companiesP onl, acti!ities
*udit structure is weak and often is desk
audit onl,.
(hreats

&reen 6eaf5 Thailand

+reen Ceaf :oundation certifies hotels and tour operators in (hailand.
www.greenleafthai.org/home?en.asp
Strengths
Support from electric utilit, and ro,al
house
:ull go!ernment support
)pportunities

'eaknesses
#art of standard is a!aila$le onl, in (hai
9er, weak on sociocultural and
communit, criteria
)riented towards larger $usinesses
(hreats

Aes$ecting Our Culture #rogram (AOC)/ *ustralia (indigenous-run $usinesses) is an indigenous-run

certification program for indigenous tour operators and communities in *ustralia. www.rocprogram.com
Strengths
Ae!eloped $, and for indigenous
communities that accept tourism
)rientation towards social and economic
$enefits for communities
)pportunities

:or $oth indigenous-run and outside

$usinesses
'eaknesses
Standard has se!eral weaknesses
(hreats

Africa
1air Trade in Tourism South Africa (1TTSA) Kencourages and pu$lici@es fair and responsi$le $usiness
practice $, South *frican tourism esta$lishmentsQ through the :((S* (rademark/ an independent
s,m$ol of fairness in the tourism industr,. (he (rademark is awarded to tourism esta$lishments that meet
stringent criteria.L www.fairtourismsa.org.@a
Strengths
;igh international profile
+ood international credi$ilit,
)pportunities

'eaknesses
=mphasis is almost entirel, social and
economic/ not en!ironmental
(hreats

*coA%ard Namibia- ;eritage =n!ironmental .ating Scheme Kser!es to recognise and identif,
en!ironmentall, responsi$le companies and products in southern *frica.L www.heritagesa.co.@a
Strengths
)riented towards local conditions
Ai!ided into sections for communal lands/
farms/ and towns
)pportunities

'eaknesses
9er, weak on sociocultural and
communit, criteria
*ward/ rather than certification
(hreats

*cotourism Societ' of .en'a (*SO.) *coAating Scheme: K=cotourism Gen,a manages a certification
scheme for tourism accommodation facilities $ased on en!ironmental and social criteria.L
www.ecotourismken,a.org
Strengths
;igh Dualit, en!ironmental criteria
)pportunities

'eaknesses
;as certified onl, large $usinesses
'eak social and communit, criteria
(hreats