📒 Assessment Questions
Instructions
The assessment includes all of the questions that are that are part of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) destination criteria. With those particularly questions there is a link to the specific GSTC criteria and examples of the kind of evidence you might provide in your descriptions, attachments, or website url links.
In some cases the assessment asks for data. In those cases it is followed by a request for the source of your data. A source may be a website url link or the name title and contact info for the source of the data.
All questions in the assessment need to be answered before proceeding to the next step of completing the online sustainability management plan.
Legend of Requirements
👍️ Yes
👎️ No
✍️ Provide Description
💬 Source or Reference
🔗 Provide Link
🔢 Provide Number
📤️ Upload Documentation
📸 Upload Image
Destination Community
Name or Representative:
Please enter contact email:
Please enter contact phone:
Address of Community:
Street Address :
Street Address Line 2 :
City :
State / Province :
Postal / Zip Code :
Upload Pictures Here:
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Brief Description of Sustainable Tourism Services:
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Website Address:
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What is the website for the tourist promotion of your community?
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Sustainability Management
How are sustainability concerns communicated to tourism related enterprises?
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Does the community have a plan to monitor and manage visitor movement and activity and increase or reduce them at certain times or locations to better balance the needs of the local economy, community, cultural heritage, and environment?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please upload plan 📤️
Does the community have a risk, and crisis management plan appropriate to the community including key elements communicated to visitors, residents, and the business community.
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
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Reference Images for this Section
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Tourism Satisfaction
Do you provide guests with the opportunity to rate the value of services received?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, ✍️
Do you provide stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on their concerns and satisfaction with sustainable tourism management?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes,✍️
Reference Images for this Section
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What is the average number of room nights for guest stays?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of tourists / guests in your community on a peak night?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the total population of permanent residents in your community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the total number of local people employed in tourism?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of men employed in your community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of women employed in your community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Do you collect and provide data on how tourism has helped bring new services and infrastructure to the community?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If you answered Yes, please ✍️ .
Please list activities and initiatives in the community to improve the health and well being of the residents.
✍️ List
🔗Source
What are the major infrastructure improvements that tourism brought to the community?
✍️ List
Please list the top five major social services attributed to the economic benefits derived from tourism.
✍️ List
Does the Community provide opportunities and training in tourism?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
What percent of the salaried employees and what percent of the full time hourly employees (at least 32 hrs a week) are paid a living wage. In the U.S. communities can refer to the living wage calculator to determine the living wage. For other communities, a living wage is defined as: a wage that, at a minimum, supports standard of living at least 20% above the poverty level in a given locality.
✍️ List
🔗Source
Does the Community have programs or incentives to encourage the use of local supply chains, purchase of fair trade products, and other sustainable investment.
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does The Community have a program to encourage enterprises, visitors, and the public to contribute to its sustainability initiatives. -
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the community uphold international standards on human rights including laws, practices or code of conduct to prevent and report human trafficking, sexual exploitation, discrimination, and harassment against anyone particularly children, adolescents, women, LGBT and other minorities?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️ laws, practices, and enforcement
Does the community have laws and regulations regarding property rights to record and document acquisitions and to protect assess to key resources, and protect indigenous rights where applicable?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does The community have a system to monitor, prevent, publicly report, and respond to crime, safety, and health hazards that address the needs of both visitors and residents?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the community when practical provide accessibility to facilities and services, including those of natural and cultural importance, to persons with disabilities and others who have special requirements or other special needs?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Reference Images for this Section
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Tourism Seasonality
What is the total number of employment for the community outside of tourism?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Percent of revenues generated by tourism?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is total occupancy level (tourist arrivals) by month?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the average annual tourism occupancy?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many enterprise establishments are there in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many enterprise establishments are open year round?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of full-time, year round jobs in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of temporary jobs in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Cultural Sustainability
Does the Community have a policy and system to evaluate, rehabilitate, and conserve cultural assets including both built heritage and landscapes?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the Community have laws that govern the proper sale, trade, display, or gifting of historical and archeological artifacts and are such laws enforced and publicly communicated to business and visitors?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the Community support the celebration and protection of intangible cultural heritage including but not limited to art, music, language, gastronomy, and other aspects that give the community a unique sense of place?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the Community monitor, protect, and when necessary rehabilitate or restore local community access to natural and cultural sites?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Are the information provided to inform visitors culturally appropriate, developed with community collaboration, and communicated in languages pertinent to visitors and residents?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Please upload📤️ sample information and/or insert url link.
Does the Community have a system to contribute to the protection and preservation of intellectual property rights of communities and individuals?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the Community have a system for the management of visitors within and around cultural sites, which takes account of their characteristics, capacity and sensitivity, and seeks to optimize visitor flow and minimize adverse impacts?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the Community provide accurate material to inform visitors of the significance of the cultural and natural aspects of the sites they visit?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Reference Images for this Section
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Environmental Sustainability
Energy
What is the total energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) from all sources?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How much energy in kWh is generated from renewable resources in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the total annual amount of GHG emissions generated in your community per year?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Water
What is the annual volume of freshwater consumed in liters?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What percentage of freshwater is reclaimed annually?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the percentage of tourism establishments with water treated to international potable standards?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Does the Community monitor water quality for drinking, recreational, and ecological purposes and have a system to respond to any water quality issues in a timely manner?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
What is the frequency of water-borne diseases: number/percentage of visitors reporting water-borne illnesses during their stay?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the daily average water use per person per day in liters?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Wastewater & Solid Waste
What is the percentage of sewage from site receiving treatment (to primary, secondary, (wastewater management) tertiary levels)?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the percentage of tourism accommodations using sewage treatment systems?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the volume of waste produced by the community (tonnes) annually?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the volume of waste recycled (tonnes) per year?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the volume of waste to landfill (tonnes) per year?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Land Use
Does there exist a land use or development planning process, including tourism, and provisions for monitoring the plans Implementation?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
What is the percentage of area subject to control (density, design, etc.)?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What percent of the community land area is set aside for biodiversity conservation?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Are there plans in place to protect biodiversity and monitor the plans effectiveness?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️ plans to protect biodiversity,
Does the Community have a system for the management of visitors within and around natural sites, which takes account of their characteristics, capacity and sensitivity, and seeks to optimize visitor flow and minimize adverse impacts?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the community have a system to ensure compliance with local, national, and international laws and standards for wildlife interaction and to ensure animal welfare and conservation of animal species?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Reference Images for this Section
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Buildings
Is an environmental Impact Assessment Required before new construction?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Are there energy efficiency standards for new construction or redevelopment?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Are there disaster reduction standards for new construction or re- development, (hurricane, flood plane, tornado, earthquake, etc.)?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the community have guidelines and regulations to minimize light and noise pollution?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
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Transportation
What is the total number of people who use mass transit each year?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many kilometers of dedicated bike TRAILS are in the destination?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many kilometers of designated bike lanes are in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many kilometers of of pedestrian trails are in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of vehicles owned and operated within the Community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What is the number of hybrid, electric, or energy efficient vehicles owned and operated in the community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Plastic Reduction
How many tourist businesses within the community refrain from using single use plastic bags?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many tourist businesses within the community refrain from using plastic straws?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many tourist businesses within the community refrain from using plastic lids?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Organic & Local Food
Does the community participate in programs to source food locally?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Does the community participate in programs to compost food waste?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Are there farmers markets or local food cooperatives that serve as a resource for the community?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
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Sustainable Seafood
Is seafood caught locally?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
🔗Source
What percent of seafood sold in restaurants and stores is caught locally?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Do restaurants in the destination advertise and offer seafood that is caught locally?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
Reference Images for this Section
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Habitat & Ecosystem Protection / Enhancement Programs
Please provide a description of current habitat protection/restoration/enhancement programs.
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Does the Community have a program to protect threatened and endangered species?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
Please ✍️
What percentage of land within the community is dedicated to parks and/or open space?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Does the community participate in any Tree Planting or Reforestation programs?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
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Clean Marinas
How many marinas are in your community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
How many marinas in your community are certified as Clean Marinas?
🔢Number
🔗Source
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Education
What is the annual number of people reached through environmental or sustainability education programs in your community?
🔢Number
🔗Source
List the top for groups or organizations in the community providing sustainability education.
List of Organizations
🔗Source
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Planetary Boundary Policy
Do any policies and/or programs exist at your community to become a net zero carbon community?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
Are there any policies and/or programs designed to encourage mass transportation for all guests activities once they arrive at the resort or community?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If Yes, please ✍️
Does your community offer any carbon offsets for all travel of guests once they reach the community?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
Does your community offer any carbon offsets for guest activities that require the use of non-resort transportation?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes please ✍️
Does your community have a policy and/or program to not use ozone depletion substances?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes upload 📤️ policy
Does your community have a policy and/or program in place to reduce air pollution and/or improve air quality?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes upload 📤️ policy
What is the yearly average for local Air Quality Index of the community or local areas?
🔢Number
🔗Source
What are the yearly highs and lows for Air Quality Index (AQI)?
🔢Number
🔗Source
Does your community have a policy and/or program in place to protect and enhance ecosystems for biodiversity?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes please ✍️
and/or upload 📤️ policy
Does your community have a policy and/or program in place to reduce or not use any toxic chemicals?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please upload 📤️ policy.
Does your community have a policy and/or programs in place to not deplete aquifer levels or endanger community fresh water supplies?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes please ✍️
and / or upload 📤️ policy.
Does your community have a policy and/or program in place to prevent tree loss and encourage the planting of native trees when practical?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
and / or upload 📤️ policy.
Does your community have a program in place to reduce fertilizers that contain phosphates or nitrates?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
and/or upload 📤️ policy
Are there plans in place to protect threatened or endangered species?
👍️ Yes / 👎️ No
If yes, please ✍️
What is your communities best sustainable tourism success story to date?
✍️
🔗 SOURCE
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Sustainability Management Plan
Note that the following will not be part of the online assessment but will be required for satisfactory completion of the online sustainability management plan. I include the information below to show how additional GSTC criteria is included and measured.
A-1 - Management Team listed in Sustainability Plan
A-2 - Evidence is the online plan itself with options for each stakeholder to link there plan to the larger Community plan. Each plan has to have a minimum of one Outcome, one Action Plan, and one Indicator for ten different categories and/or the 17 SDG’s
A-3 - Online software includes a feature for monitoring
A-4 - Online software has a feature for enterprises to link their sustainability plan to that of the Community.
A-10 - One of the ten principles of one planet living is zero carbon. In addition Goal 13 of the SDG’s is on climate change. One or both of these has to be addressed in the online plan to be acceptable.
B-4 - Evidence is the number of enterprises who link their sustainability plan to that of the Community plan. The software provides for that opportunity.
D-5 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for energy consumption.
D-6 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for water conservation.
D-7 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for water quality
D-8 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for wastewater.
D-9 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for waste reduction
D-10 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for GHG emissions
D-11 - Plan needs to include a least one goal, action plan, and indicator for transportation.