The world’s leading travel & tourism Certification Organisations have today announced the launch of the Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance (TSCA), a registered association dedicated to fostering a global tourism industry that thrives on sustainability.
With sustainability being embraced by all major industries, travel and tourism businesses are calling for simpler solutions to assist with sustainable management, attain independent certification, and achieve continuous improvement. At the same time, the popularity of sustainability is causing a proliferation of greenwashing and targeting travellers with unverified green claims.
TSCA Chairperson, Elissa Keenan said, “Our industry and travellers are demanding a transparent system of certification that can be trusted to promote the best in sustainable tourism and eliminate greenwashing. The TSCA has been incorporated by its founding members as a unified certification platform for the tourism industry and to ensure that travellers make informed choices based on the highest sustainability standards.”
Under this new alliance, the TSCA has established a minimum sustainable tourism standard, which serves as the baseline that all members will align with. This standard, alongside independent auditing procedures ensures consistency and credibility in sustainability management. The minimum standard will continue to serve all currently certified businesses and destinations while providing a unified system to meet the growing demand for independent verification of sustainable tourism management.
The next steps for the TSCA will be to assist tourism businesses in satisfying the requirements of emerging consumer protection legislation, such as the European Union Green Claims Directive introduced to eradicate greenwashing.
To provide greater access to certification for more tourism businesses, the TSCA will continue to streamline systems and refine and align reporting standards, criteria, benchmarks, and other requirements related to certification. By growing the number of certified businesses, travel consumers will benefit from being able to purchase travel options with green credentials independently audited and supported by documented evidence.
TSCA Chairperson, Elissa Keenan added, “Collectively, TSCA members are responsible for certifying more than 19,000 travel and tourism enterprises, organisations, and destinations. For over 30 years, the world’s most recognised travel brands and destinations have relied on us to provide independent and creditable certification of their sustainable practices. The trust and recognition we have built over decades, with businesses and travellers alike, is the ongoing legacy the TSCA will build on to ensure that travel & tourism remains a positive force for communities, enterprises, and the environment.”
About Green Key Global
Green Key Global, established in 1994 by the Hotel Association of Canada, is a leading environmental certification body designed specifically for the hotel industry. Best-in-class Green Key Global third-party certification programming leverages corporate social responsibility and environmental social governance, supporting sustainable initiatives across the industry to benefit the environment and improve fiscal performance. By aligning with all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Green Key Global sets a comprehensive standard for eco-friendly practices. For more information on Green Key Global: http://www.greenkeyglobal.com/home
About TSCA
The Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance is an association of leading sustainable travel and tourism certification organisations from around the world. Its founding members include Biosphere: Instituto de Turismo Responsable; Blue Flag; Ecotourism Australia; Good Travel Seal; Green Globe Certification, Green Key: Foundation for Environmental Education; Green Key Global; TourCert; Travelife for Accommodation; and Travelife for Tour Operators.
For over 30 years, this group of leading internationally recognised certification organisations has been responsible for developing the industry’s best practice standards in sustainable tourism. Together, these organisations certify more than 19,000 of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies, organisations and destinations. The TSCA was formed to address best practices and improve cooperation between organisations on a global scale. Ecotourism Australia holds the inaugural chair of the TSCA.