The TSCA Minimum standards
For more than 30 years, TSCA members have led the development and implementation of internationally recognised sustainability standards and have certified over 19,000 leading tourism businesses, organisations, and destinations globally.
This collective expertise and experience has been harnessed to develop two different TSCA minimum standards that member certification schemes have committed to incorporating into their own standards. One is specifically for the certification of tourism businesses such as hotels and tour operators. The other is for the certification of destinations.
How the standards were developed
Both the business and destination standards have been collaboratively developed by TSCA members and establish the baseline requirements that travel and tourism businesses must meet to achieve credible sustainability certification.
The TSCA employed best practices in the development process which included an extensive stakeholder consultation process, with two consultation rounds involving representatives from across the tourism sector, including certification schemes, tourism businesses, industry associations, NGOs, and sustainability experts. Feedback received during this process was reviewed and incorporated to ensure that the standard is practical, globally applicable, and reflects internationally recognised sustainability principles.
How the standards are applied
Certification by TSCA members utilising the minimum standards enables tourism businesses and destinations to better manage their impacts, demonstrate accountability and transparency, and create lasting benefits for communities, visitors, and the natural environment.
Through clear, practical, and verifiable requirements, they establish a common baseline for tourism sustainability certification, support consistency between certification schemes, drive continuous improvement, and strengthen confidence in credible sustainability claims worldwide.
TSCA members agree to incorporate a set of agreed minimum standards into their own certification schemes. This means that they have committed to ensuring that these criteria are used to determine if certifications can be issued under their respective schemes.
It is important to understand that these are minimums and that TSCA members may have additional criteria within their own Standard. You can find out more about each TSCA Member’s specific certification standard by contacting them or visiting their website. Website links can be found on the Members page.
TSCA TOURISM BUSINESS STANDARD
Version 1.1 (June 2026)
Designed for the certification of tourism businesses such as accommodation providers and tour operators, the TSCA Tourism Business Standard is structured around four core sustainability themes: (1) Sustainability Management; (2) Labour Rights and Working Conditions; (3) Local Community; and (4) Environment and Biodiversity.
It provides robust yet practical criteria that can be applied by tourism businesses of all sizes and across all regions.
TSCA DESTINATION STANDARD
Version 1.1 (June 2026)
A destination is a defined and accessible geographic area with a resident community and a set of natural, cultural or recreational assets that visitors can experience, such as landscapes, heritage, attractions, local activities or other place-based offerings.
Designed for the certification of tourism destinations, the TSCA Destination Standard is contains criteria that are based around the four core themes of destination stewardship: (1) Destination Management; (2) Environment; (3) Socio-cultural; and (4) Economy.