Siena confirms the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certification. After the audit carried out last April, carried out with the accredited body Vireo, the “Gstc – Global Sustainable Tourism Council” certificate was renewed for the current year as well. Siena is the first Italian city of art recognized internationally as sustainable in the tourism sector.
The hearing, in particular, concerned the verification of the city’s tourism system, committed to improving the quality of the offer, according to the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the international body born from the push of the United Nations program for environment (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The certification obtained last year was the beginning of a virtuous path, which involves the territory of the tourist area, of which Siena is the leader, to make it even more attractive with respect to sustainability standards. The certification of a sustainable management system according to GSTC is focused on the enhancement and protection of the environment and the territory and a broad involvement of stakeholders: the certification lasts three years, but provides, for each year, intermediate checks for the purpose to concretely measure the constant improvement of sustainability performance on four pillars: sustainable management, socio-economic sustainability, cultural sustainability, environmental sustainability. Furthermore, from next year, the certification will concern all the municipalities that are part of the “Terre di Siena” tourist area, of which Siena is the leader.
On 15, 16 and 17 April, Vireo, one of the bodies accredited for issuing the international GSTC certification, returned to evaluate the improvement actions implemented by the Siena administration and destination compared to the previous year. Over the last year the municipal administration, with the support of Etifor, a spin-off of the University of Padua and member of the GSTC, has worked closely with the control room, established to represent the various categories of stakeholders of the city and with the consultation of the Sector, given the desire to extend the consultation and certification also to the municipalities belonging to the Tourism Sector. The various entities have engaged in discussions to share and structure sustainable tourism management, capable of maximizing the benefits for the community, the environment and cultural heritage, while minimizing the negative impacts that may result. The discussion has given rise to a strategic and operational destination plan, entitled “For good governance of tourism in Siena”, as a programmatic and operational tool on tourism, which has as its priority objective the valorisation and sustainable development of the territory in social, economic, cultural and environmental terms.
The Siena municipal council, in today’s meeting Thursday 15 May, also decided to join the Gstc (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) association, which has among its objectives those of greater valorisation of sustainable tourism and the promotion of initiatives aimed at promote the best synergy between public entities and private economic operators, with the aim of contributing to the eco-sustainable, tourist and cultural development of its territory. Membership involves an annual membership fee of approximately 3 thousand euros. The path to the GSTC standard began at the end of 2021, with the consultancy of the university spin-off Etifor, when the Municipality of Siena embarked on the journey to become the first art city in Italy to obtain sustainable tourism certification. The standard is recognized internationally and the certification will place Siena in a network of excellent tourist destinations.
Source: Municipality of Siena – press office
