certification

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Certification
on this page: headlines related: tripadvisor, awards spotlight: earthcheck flickr: [|Certification] editing: [|certification]

//Caution: Information dump! This page has heaps of information and little organization. Editors are encouraged to add info and help organize the info.//

Ron Mader: Some observations
some certification programs are helpful, others are being outclassed by the social web. Far too much effort has gone into creating programs for certification instead of modeling innovative and perhaps sustainable practices. We want to verify and confirm what is rather than nurture what's new and what needs to be done. Most tourism certification efforts are far from something that travelers and locals can benefit from.

The rise of the social web the ease of gathering traveler feedback will be critical in raising standards across the board. Travelers are heading first to sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Google, TripAdvisor and YouTube to learn about the pluses and minuses of individual operations. The next big step will be the consumer demand that national, regional and city government sites do the simplest thing and simply inform potential visitors what options are available for those interested in ecotourism, responsible travel and voluntourism.

We welcome multiple points of view and public dialogue. [|Comments are welcome on Ron's blog].

Current discussion on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/rtnetworking/permalink/10154491698457388

Hangouts

 * June 19** [|Travel Labels and Certification] ([|blog] )

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 * June 12** [|Travel Labels and Certification] ([|blog])

Buzzword Bingo
accountability - accreditation - assessment - audit - awards - badge - benchmark - **certification**- compliance - credibility - credible - due diligence - evaluation - filter - greenwash - gtbs - [|kitemark] - label - logo - marketing - merit badge - money - open - priority - public - rating - relevant - scheme - self-assessment - standards - sunken cost fallacy - time - transparency - TripAdvisor - trust - validation - value - verification - weight

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Headlines
http://wire.sprudge.com/shade-grown-fairtrade-attacks-rival-certifications-in-guardian-sponcon [|In-Blistering-Critique-WWF-Says-MSC-Financial-Goals-Weakened-Its-Standards-for-Indian-Ocean-Tuna] http://www.foodlog.nl/files/achtergrond/WWF-Retrospective-Indian-Ocean-Tuna-HCRs-FINAL.2-1-1.pdf (PDF) [|Marine Stewardship Council blue tick “questionable"] [|Raising-the-bar-for-ecotourism-iucn-joins-effort-to-align-ecotourism-with-conservation-goals] - [|@anna_spenceley]

[| Are Certification Programs Beneficial? A No-Frills List of Pros and Cons - Glenn Jampol] [|Brendan May from Robertsbridge on the certification debate - a neutral observer's perspective] [|Beyond Certification] [|Dodgy auditors undermine the credibility of palm oil group's 'sustainability' claims] __Who Watches the Watchmen? __ [|Rainforest Alliance loses Green Tourism support] [|Four major US brands to drop controversial sustainable forestry certification scheme] [] [|UK's Green Tourism tops list of global certification schemes] [] [] [|Environmentalists’ Complaint Exposes Rift Between ‘Green’ Certification Groups] [|Save the World through Sustainable Travel: How Destinations Are Being Rated] [|AAA Tourism Invites Feedback on Star Rating Assessment Criteria] [|The certification conundrum - Can you be certain about certification?] [|Gauging the Reliability of Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism] (PDF)

Translating: Questions
¿Tiene alguna certificación? Avez-vous des certifications?
 * Do you have any certifications?**

¿Cuál es el futuro de la certificación? Quel est l'avenir de la certification?
 * What's the future of certification?**

¿Quién va a certificar los certificadores? Quem certifica os certificadores? Qui certifiera les certificateurs?
 * Who will certify the certifiers? ([|poster])**

Dilbert
[]

Chinese Shoppers
http://www.welcomechinese.com.cn/certification/shopping

Yahoo
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecotourism_certification

Quotes
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guards? Wie staan wag oor die wagters?

Embedded Tweets
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[|Certification Guide] [|Summary - Ecotourism Certification Workshop] [|Reflections on "Green Ratings" - Anne Becher and Beatrice Blake] [|Certification at Oaxaca's Pochote Market] [|How green is my vacation? - Michael Kaye] Re-considerando la Certificación del Turismo - ITRI [|Accreditation and Certification - Big Volcano] [|It's Not Easy Being Green - Conde Nast Traveler] [|The Trade and Environmental Effects of Ecolabels: Assessment and Response] (PDF) [|Assessing the Certification for Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica] (PDF) [|Certification and accreditation in Dominican Republic and Haiti - Yacine Khelladi] [|La certification en écotourisme : une fin en soi? - Ron Mader/Association Française d'Ecotourisme] STSC - Rainforest Alliance STSC Final Report (PDF File, 2.5 MB) Labelling and Certification - Eldis [|International Maritime Organization] [|Green Travel Market] [|Trip Advisor] [|VISIT] [|NEAP] [|IADB - Sustainable Tourism Certification System] [|Green Globe] [|Blue Flag] [|Bluelist - Lonely Planet] [|Qualmark] wiki [|Ecotrans] [|Destinations Rated - National Geographic Traveler] [|Ecolabels and Awards - Ecotrans] [|Certification and Ecolabeling - IPS] [|El Proceso de Certificación - ASEC] [|Q&A with Xavier Font - Ecoclub] [|Recommendations for Governments - WTO](PDF) [|On certification, harmonisation and other exports - Ecoclub] [|Certification - Explorasport] [|Certification - New Farm] [|Certification Mistakes - New Farm] [|ISO Online] [|Procrustes - Wikipedia] [|ISEAL Alliance] [|Green Lodging Certification (California)] [|Ecoturismo Brazil] (Yahoo) [|Ecolabels in tourism: what are they and why so many? - Ralph Pina] [|Ecolabels in tourism: do they have a future? - Ralf Pina/Ecoafrica] [|Ecolabels in tourism: eco-colonialism or eco-protectionism? - Ralph Pina] [|CAST's April 2006 Globe Trotter - Sustainable Tourism Mailing List] [|Have you been greenwashed? - Guardian] http://industries.ul.com/environment/certificationvalidation-marks
 * Elsewhere on the Web**

Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)
gtbs

Mexico
http://www.ecoturismocertificado.mx [|#EcoturismoCertificado]

Sustainable Tourism Alliance
http://www.sustainabletourismalliance.co.za [|@STAAlliance]

Green Seal
http://www.greenseal.org https://twitter.com/GreenSeal http://www.greenseal.org/GreenGovernmentsAndNonProfits.aspx Certification Checklist for [|Bronze][|Silver]and [|Gold]


 * Earth Check**

earthcheck [|Can you share details of Earth Check as applied in Cancún?¿Se puede compartir los detalles de Earth Check como se aplica en Cancún?]

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Leed Hotel http://skift.com/2014/08/05/leed-hotel-certifications-are-declining-but-still-profitable/ With these numbers, hotels are likely questioning if achieving full certification is worth it, and it’s unclear if full certification will prove profitable long-term.

Ecuador
http://www.turismo.gob.ec/inician-talleres-de-capacitacion-para-obtener-la-certificacion-internacional-tourcert/ https://twitter.com/TourCert media type="custom" key="28726052"

Ecolabel EU
[] []

South Africa examples
[|Tourism Grading] [] [|@TGCSA_]

Germany
CSR Tourism http://www.tourcert.org

Sweden
[]

Food
[] [|Independent report on the impact of Scores on Doors in the ACT] []

marine seafood
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320713000049 [|'Sustainable' Seafood Labels Come Under Fire]

[|Seafood stewardship in crisis - Nature] The main consumer-targeted certification scheme for sustainable fisheries is failing to protect the environment and needs radical reform, say Jennifer Jacquet, Daniel Pauly and colleagues.

[|Fishy Situation] [|MSC responds to Nature opinion piece]

recommended reading: [|Certification makes greens see red]

Disappointingly, the majority of hotels featured are huge concrete buildings, some with over 100 rooms, and most have at least one large energy-intensive swimming pool. They may have demonstrated to the auditors that they are actively committed to greening up their act, but “sustainable hotels” they are not. - Richard Hammond, [|ABTA launches Travelife directory of 'green' hotels]

Ökotourismus-Zertifizierung: Eine Lösung auf der Suche nach Problemen?

[|http://www.certificationnetwork.org]

[]

[]

Travelocity []

Green Key
[|http://www.greenkeyglobal.com] []

Green Key Eco-Rating Program - [|www.greenkeyglobal.com]

GSTC
[|2012 Meeting as Discussed on Facebook]

Presentations
[|What value does certification have? Harold Goodwin, Coalition Internationale pour un Tourisme Responsible in Paris June 2011] (PDF) [|Sustainability in Tourism: A Guide through the Label Jungle] (PDF)

SmartVoyager http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24394204449 https://twitter.com/smart_voyager

ON DECK - Assessing the reputation of certification programs (surveys)

UK
At [|The Travel Foundation's] Forum meeting last week, entitled ‘Be seen to be green - Can certification work for you?’, it felt very much as if, for most people working in the tourist industry, the answer was still clearly no, - http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/node/804

http://www.aito.co.uk/corporate_Responsible-Tourism.asp - Green tourism and responsible travel are key concerns for AITO and its members. Each potential member's sustainable tourism credentials are examined before they may join, to ensure sustainability and that local cultures and the environment are treated with the utmost care and respect. AITO members recognise that the destinations where they provide holidays are the life blood of the industry. and that they need to protect them with a responsible travel and sustainable tourism policy.

AITO is the first tourism industry association to incorporate into its business charter a commitment to Responsible travel and green tourism. Sustainable travel guidelines for its members based upon 5 key objectives: [|AITO Responsible Tourism Guidelines] [|AITO Practising Responsible Tourism] [|AITO RT Star classification system] [|AITO Members Practising Responsible Tourism] [|TIPS for travellers] [|AITO RT Committee] [|Useful RT Links]
 * To protect the environment – its flora, fauna and landscapes
 * To respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage
 * To benefit local communities – both economically and socially
 * To conserve natural resources – from office to destination
 * To minimise pollution – through noise, waste disposal and congestion

Australia
Forestry Tasmania involved in tourism row - ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/21/2281638.htm

Ecotourism Australia no longer lists Forestry Tasmania's tourism sites. Tasmania's Ken Jeffreys: "We decided not to renew the certification and to allow that certification to lapse. We did that for a commercial reason."

Forestry Tasmania Stands By Claim - Forestry Tasmania http://www.forestrytas.com.au/news/2008/06/forestry-tasmania-stands-by-claim

The CEO of EcoTourism Australia Stephen Pahl wrote to FT on April 23 2007, requesting FT to renew before August 31 2007. FT did not renew as requested, and was advised on June 6 by Mr Pahl that FT was no longer certified.

Ecotourism Australia http://www.ecotourism.org.au

Forestry Tasmania http://www.forestrytas.com.au

Plenty (2008) http://www.plentymag.com/features/2008/07/ecotoruism_certification.php

ABTA http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/travelife

Twitter [|@GTAccreditation]

green globe http://www.greenglobeint.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Globe http://twitter.com/greenglobecert

1,00 certifications in 72 countries recognized in 182 countries iso 17021 compliant third-party independent verification process completely paperless certification process recognized in 182 countries wttc owns 5% of greenglobe

http://www.greenglobe.travel/aboutus/

green globe marketing division started http://twitter.com/greenglobecert

Green Globe Alliance includes http://www.tuv.com/global/en/index.html Heritage Environmental Group in Sub-Saharan Africa Pronatura (Green Globe Mexico) Mexico Chattanooga Green (USA) Sustainable Travel International

media type="custom" key="10306247" EarthCheck

[|EarthCheck] operates as an independent company operating its own benchmarking and certification standard which has been built to meet the new reporting and compliance standards demanded of a carbon constrained world. Exclusively owned by EC 3  Global, EarthCheck is now trusted by more than 1000  organisations in over 60  countries and used by some of the biggest names in the business. It provides a means to independently calculate Scopes One, Two and Three emissions and improve operational efficiencies. Importantly EarthCheck reports are verified by an international network of independent auditors.

Dead LInks [|La certification en écotourisme : une fin en soi? - Ron Mader/Association Française d'Ecotourisme]

Indigenous http://www.tourism-futures.org/content/view/1698/283/

Recorded Chat/Questions about GSTC
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GSTC/ATTA
ATTA Webinar: Using Tourism Certification to Position your Business in the Market Jun 9 and 16, 2011 http://www.adventuretravelnews.com/atta-webinar-using-tourism-certification-to-position-your-business-in-the-market Quotes - Amos: The consumer is not that important at the initial stage.

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 * Download Slides from Part #1 (5 MB)**

Editing
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/certification.html http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/certification2.html http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/certification3.html

wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitemark

Misc https://www.facebook.com/pages/Planetacom/154964094553725 My contribution to Responsible Tourism this year (at least as of this week) will be to ensure that the new Lesotho Accommodation Star Grading System, that I am currently developing here in Maseru, has the maximum number of Responsible tourism standards. Since the program will in part be based on the Harmonized standards I developed for the 14 countries in southern Africa we could eventually envision more than 40 specific standards most of which will be required for a star rating. beenThe program is designed to eventually be mandatory thus committing the industry to a major responsible tourism effort. James MacGregor Unfortunately I have just started to design the program, in fact I will be back to finishing the inception report in the next few minutes. If you remember, when we met at INDABA two years ago I was just starting the process of designing the harmonized accommodation grading scheme for the 14 countries in southern Africa and Indian Ocean. The mandate terminated last year with the preparation of more than 1850 standards across six accommodation categories. Unlike other star grading systems, the harmonized system includes 57 responsible tourism standards and 45 universal accessibility standards, as well as 120 quality assurance standards. The entire program, including the standards were endorsed by the 14 ministers of tourism last year. I did a presentation at the IIPT conference in Zambia and can download a document outlining the CO2 reduction standards on my linkedIn page. However I will be starting a series of awareness workshops throughout Lesotho at the beginning of March and I will upload my PowerPoint presentation that I will be using for the workshops. They will emphasize the scope of the standards since I will be mostly presenting to the accommodation providers. I am certainly eager to see their response to the responsible tourism standards. However, as with the harmonized scheme, I have proposed a lead in time of 2 to 3 years.... Allowing the accommodation sector to make the necessary changes. However it is more or less assumed that these standards will become mandatory by say 2016. Incidentally I used this date to calculate the half billion kg/year of CO2 reduction with the implementation of these responsible tourism standards.

I am not sure what you are referring to. if you are referring to the southern Africa accommodation harmonized grading scheme, the process was completely transparent. All proposals and recommendations were validated by at least one and frequently two representatives from each of the 14 countries. In fact our last workshop lasted two days which gave the individual country representatives a chance to go over every one of the 1850 standards. Each country rep subsequently returned to their country and over the past year several of them have been working at integrating the standards [including the responsible tourism standards] into their fledgling start grading system. As well they were discussed in detail amongst the 14 ministers of tourism, before the Standards, and implementation action plan were endorsed. the Lesotho standards will be reviewed by the accommodation sector in a series of seven regional workshops where I will present [in reasonable detail] the proposed standards, grading management structure and the process of being certified. I'm sure by the time the program is completed more than 300 people will have reviewed the standards. I am also doing a 17 day assessor training program which again will open up the standards for discussion and a review in terms of the applicability of each one. But perhaps I don't understand? is there another point at which you don't see transparency in the accommodation grading schemes as they exist in other countries? Obviously transparency is a key component to the credibility of a grading system. For that reason we will be training both professional assessors [all with significant hotel administration and tourism training] and a master assessor. Finally we will be developing a communication plan to ensure widespread distribution of the program and the standards.