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On the 24th and 25th of September, join this 2-day-long in-person and interactive training class in Padova (Italy): a convenient way to improve your sustainability skills while at the same time learning alongside GSTC experts and fellow sustainable tourism practitioners. The GSCT Italy Working Group organises the course in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council: a non-profit organisation that gathers diverse representatives of the tourism system worldwide. 

The GSTC criteria

Considering how sustainability is imperative for all tourism stakeholders, the GSTC has developed a global standard for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria, that wants to represent a common language for the development and management of sustainability practices in tourism. The two sets of Criteria (one designed for destinations and one for hotels and tour operators) are arranged in four pillars that cover all aspects of sustainability:

  • Sustainable management;
  • Socioeconomic impacts;
  • Cultural impacts;
  • Environmental impacts.

The Criteria are designed to be adapted to different local conditions that each destination might present. 

Why to join the course?

The course is an amazing opportunity to get to know fellow colleagues and sustainability practitioners, enrich your understanding of  sustainable tourism and also embark in debates and constructive conversations and group exercises. The training will offer practical insights and expert guidance to help tourism destinations and businesses, at various stages of their sustainability journey, make informed decisions on how to implement sustainability practices and how to develop viable sustainable tourism policies for their organizations and destinations. Everyone is welcome! Bring your curiosity, best practices and doubts (they are also most welcome). The training will be held in English.

The course is organised by the GSCT Italy Working Group in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council: a non-profit organization that gathers diverse representatives of the tourism system worldwide. 

The GSTC Criteria are a valuable starting point for all destinations and businesses working in tourism but there is a need to translate sustainability from words to actions. For this reason, the GSTC Italy Working Group* is organizing a GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Course for any stakeholders working for sustainable tourism, to deliver in-depth understanding of the GSTC Criteria. 

The training will offer practical insights and expert guidance to help tourism destinations and businesses, at various stages of their sustainability journey, make informed decisions on how to implement sustainability practices and how to develop viable sustainable tourism policies for their organizations and destinations.

The STTP will focus both on Destination and Industry Criteria and will allow attendees to become familiar with their meaning. This two-days in-person training class will combine trainer presentations, group discussions and exercises with hands-on learning opportunities, focused on tangible action steps to applying the Criteria.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Dates: September 24 – 25, 2023

Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Location: Padova (city centre) Italy

Format: in-person

Language: English with on site Italian experts to support the learning

Trainer: GSTC Official Trainer

Course details

The certificate
By completing this 2-day training class, you will have  the opportunity to take the official GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course Exam, and upon successful completion, receive a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism by the GSTC to demonstrate your personal knowledge of sustainable tourism standards and practices.

Course trainer

GSTC Official Trainer

Course Assistants

Stefano Ravelli
Director of the Azienda per il Turismo Valsugana – Lagorai, Terme, Laghi

Since 2000, he has been involved in the development of the territory by putting together experiences in the creation of events and manifestations up to product development and taking care of the management of the DMO Valsugana Lagorai in Trentino, the first certified destination in Italy according to the GSTC standard. Since 2023 Stefano has held the role of Chair for the Italy Working Group.

 

Federica Bosco
Etifor Project Manager | Tourism Programme

Federica Bosco holds a master’s degree in tourism economics and management from the University of Bologna. Her main research interests include destination management, sustainable tourism and slow tourism. Federica works as Project Manager for Etifor’s Tourism Programme, supporting destinations and organisations in the application of sustainable tourism principles defined by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). In recent years she has accompanied several realities towards GSTC certification: the APT Valsugana (the first certified destination in Italy), the Tarvisio Consortium and the City of Siena. Federica is currently Vice-Chair of the Italy Working Group: a network of Italian organisations oriented towards sustainable tourism.

Do you need more information? Write to tourism@etifor.com!

Course Registration Fees

  • Before 11th September, 2023 = early-bird registration fee
    € 488,00 per person (400,00 + VAT)
  • After 11th September, 2023 = regular registration fee
    € 610,00 per person (500,00 + VAT)

Discounts are reserved to GSTC members, contact tourism@etifor.com to know more!

What’s included in the fee?
As part of your registration for an onsite class, you will receive:

  • Training materials to be provided prior to the class;
  • Coffee breaks during the class;
  • The Certificate of Completion confirming your attendance in the class;
  • The opportunity to take the official STTP Exam. Please note: The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Exam for the issue of Professional Certificate is optional and the relative fee (US$ 75 per person) is NOT included in the above course registration fee.

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Course Cancellation Fees

In case the participant wishes to withdraw his registration, the following cancellation fees will be withheld:

  • Before September 11th: 20% of the total fee
  • After September 11th: 100% of the total fee

The training will be confirmed upon reaching the minimum number of 15 participants by Sept. 11. In case of cancellation due to failure to reach the threshold, Etifor will fully refund the participation fee.

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Payment information

You have to paid the registration fee to complete the registration.
To pay, please make a bank transfer with this object “GSTC COURSE + your organisation or name and surname” to:

Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Padova
Via Tommaseo n. 7 35100 Padova (PD) – ITALY
CIN: O ABI: 05018
CAB: 12101
CC: 000011382611
IBAN/EU IBAN: IT80O0501812101000011382611
Codice BIC/BIC code: ETICIT22XXX

Information on the recipient of the payment:
Etifor S.r.l. Società Benefit
Piazza A. De Gasperi 41
35131 Padova, Italia
P.IVA 04570440281
cod. destinatario SUBM70N
etifor@etifor.com
etifor@pec.etifor.it

*The GSTC Italy Working Group is a network of Italian organisations that implement and promote international sustainability standards for tourism defined by GSTC. The group consists of: Etifor Srl Società Benefit, APT Valsugana, IDM Südtirol, Consorzio di Promozione Turistica del Tarvisiano, Coop. Turistica San Vigilio/San Martin – Dolomites, Ecoluxury Travel Srl, Viaggi dell’Elefante, Soc. Coop.Turistica Alta Badia, Stefania Zanuso, Territori Sostenibili, Ekita, Hospitality Team Srl Soc.

Other opportunities

Do you know there is another opportunity in Padua on the 27th of September?

Find out more about our Sustainable Tourism Forum (free event in Italian)