GSTC Sustainable Tourism

Online Course

Course Syllabus

For the up-to-date schedule, please refer to the course webpage on

www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-training

COURSE MODULES

Week 1: Effective Sustainable Tourism Management

Topics & Learning Goals Live Events

The first module provides an introduction to the GSTC W1L1: Orientation Meeting
Criteria, the definition and principles of sustainable
tourism, and the GSTC’s roles in the global tourism • Getting Started with the
industry, and discusses best practices in sustainable GSTC Sustainable Tourism
tourism management approaches (GSTC Criteria Training Course
Section A). • GSTC and GSTC Criteria:
Introduction and Overview
Learning Goals:
W1L2: Sustainability Management,
• Understand the roles of the GSTC and the GSTC Planning and Marketing Quality
Criteria. Experiences
• Learn about and discuss relevant sustainability
issues and tourism trends. • Week 1 Summary:
• Become familiar with sustainability management Sustainability Management
principles and discuss best practices. • Breakout Room Discussions

Week 2: Socioeconomic Impacts and Local Community Benefits

Topics & Learning Goals Live Events

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

Sustainable Tourism Training Program | www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-training/
 GSTC Sustainable Tourism
Online Course

The goal of the second week is both to dive deeper into W2L1: Social, Economic and
the GSTC Criteria and to discuss practical steps to Cultural Impacts: Maximizing
applying the Criteria in the real-world context, focused on Benefits
understanding the socioeconomic impacts of tourism
activities, and on effective strategies for reducing • Guest Expert Presentation
negative impacts (GSTC Criteria Section B). • Q&A, Discussion

Learning Goals: W2L2: Managing Tourism’s

Socioeconomic Impacts
• Understand issues and challenges related to the
socioeconomic impacts of tourism. • Week 2 Summary:
• Learn about sustainability practices that Socioeconomic Impacts
effectively address the socioeconomic impacts of • Case Study
tourism. • Breakout Room Group
• Discuss practical application of the GSTC Discussions
Industry Criteria through a business case study

Week 3: Cultural Heritage Preservation and Promotion

Topics & Learning Goals Live Events

Continuing on with lessons and expert presentations on W3L1: Protecting Cultural Heritage,
the GSTC Criteria, this week focuses on how tourism Promoting Sense of Place
businesses and destinations can minimize negative
impacts, maximize benefits to local communities and • Guest Expert Presentation
protect cultural heritage through sustainable tourism • Q&A, Discussions
(GSTC Criteria Section C).
W3L2: Engaging and Education
Learning Goals: Visitors in Sustainability Practices

• Understand issues and challenges related to the • Week 3 Summary: Culture

impact of tourism on local cultural heritage. and Heritage
• Learn about best practices on reducing negative • Case Study
impacts of tourism activities on local cultural • Breakout Room Group
heritage. Discussions
• Discuss how to maximize tourism’s benefits for
communities, visitors and local cultures through
sustainability practices.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

Sustainable Tourism Training Program | www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-training/
 GSTC Sustainable Tourism
Online Course

Week 4: Resource Management and Environmental Conservation

Topics & Learning Goals Live Events

In the fourth and last module of the course, key W4L1: Achieving a Sustainable
strategies for reducing tourism’s environmental footprint Balance: People, Planet and Profit
are presented, and practical action steps in
implementing sustainable resource management and • Guest Expert Presentation
conservation practices are discussed (GSTC Criteria
Section D). W4L2: Course Wrap Up: Looking
Back and Moving Forward
Learning Goals:
• Week 4 Summary:
• Understand issues and challenges related to the Environmental Impacts
environmental impacts of tourism. • Exercise Feedback
• Learn about best practices on reducing footprint • Course Wrap Up and Next
and positively contributing to conservation. Steps
• Discuss how to achieve optimal results for the
local environment, while supporting business
growth.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

Sustainable Tourism Training Program | www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-training/