ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and GSTC Accreditation System
ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and GSTC Accreditation System
A sustainability claim in tourism only carries weight when a competent and impartial body has actually checked it.
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Read the guide: How does a certification body get GSTC accreditation under ISO/IEC 17065?
By document type
| Category | Files |
|---|---|
| Manuals | 2 |
| Procedures & SOPs | 18 |
| Forms & Records | 21 |
| Checklists & Audit Tools | 9 |
| Registers, Logs & Matrices | 1 |
| Training & Awareness | 2 |
| Guides & Work Instructions | 4 |
Key documents
| Reference | Document | Format |
|---|---|---|
| AGS-QM-01 | Quality Manual | Word |
| AGS-PR-05 | Application and Contract Review | Word |
| AGS-PR-07 | Audit Planning and Execution | Word |
| AGS-PR-09 | Technical Review and Certification Decision | Word |
| AGS-F-05 | Audit Report | Word |
| AGS-CL-03 | GSTC Hotel Accommodation Audit Checklist | Word |
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Overview
This system applies ISO/IEC 17065:2012, the international standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services, in alignment with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies. ISO/IEC 17065 supplies the conformity-assessment framework — impartiality, competence, evaluation, certification decision, surveillance and control of marks — while the GSTC manual adds the requirements particular to sustainable tourism, with the GSTC Criteria as the benchmark for sustainability performance. It is written for third-party bodies certifying hotels, tour operators and related services that seek accreditation from GSTC, which acts as the accreditation body for the sector on ISO/IEC 17011 principles.
What separates this from a general product certification system is the sector work. Audit checklists are drawn up separately for hotel and accommodation properties, tour operators, MICE, and attractions, and auditor competence is defined across sustainability, environmental management, social and economic issues and the tourism sector itself, not audit technique alone. Around the audit sit risk assessment and audit-time determination, sampling across multi-site operations, groups and tours, remote and hybrid audit guidance, nonconformity grading with root-cause analysis, technical review, the certification decision and control of marks. Those are the controls that keep a tourism certificate from being read as a greenwashing claim.
What this system covers
- The GSTC Criteria applied by sector — hotels and accommodation, tour operators, MICE and attractions
- Application, contract review, impartiality screening and risk-based determination of audit time
- Audit planning and execution, including remote and hybrid audits and sampling across multi-site operations, groups and tours
- Nonconformity grading and root-cause analysis
- Technical review, certification decision, certification documentation and use of marks
- Surveillance, recertification, and suspension, withdrawal, reduction or scope change
- Auditor competence across sustainability, environmental, social and economic issues and tourism operations
Who it's for
Intended for a certification body moving into sustainable tourism, and for a tourism scheme owner preparing for GSTC accreditation, where the assessment must satisfy the ISO/IEC 17065:2012 requirements and the GSTC programme requirements together. You reach a single system in which both are answered by the same procedures, and each type of tourism operation you audit has its own checklist, organised by the four GSTC criteria sections, with indicator-level evaluation built from the current GSTC indicators.
Everything you get
Every toolkit gives you a full set of working documents for your standard, ready to edit and use.
Native Microsoft files. Add your logo and adapt every document to how you work.
Your full toolkit arrives as a ZIP the moment payment clears.
Any of your staff, at any of your own sites. No per-seat fees.
Sector specialists author each toolkit. A principal reviewer with more than twenty years reviews it.
One payment, perpetual licence for your organisation. No subscriptions, no renewals.
If a document is wrong, missing or not as described, tell us within 14 days. We fix it or refund you.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I receive?
A downloadable ZIP containing the full set of ready-to-use documents for this toolkit — manuals, procedures, forms, records, checklists, guidance and training material, all in editable Word and Excel format. The exact document count is shown at the top of this page.
Are the documents really editable?
Yes. Every file is native Microsoft Word or Excel — no locked PDFs. Add your logo, change wording, and tailor the content to your organisation. The toolkit is yours to keep and reuse.
Does this certify my organisation?
No. These are documentation toolkits aligned to the relevant standard to help you prepare. Certification itself is issued by an accredited certification body after their audit. Our toolkits give you a strong, audit-ready starting point.
How is it delivered?
Instantly and digitally. There's no physical shipment — you download the files right after payment and receive a backup link by email.
Do I get updates?
Yes, for 12 months. Fixes and revisions to this toolkit are free for 12 months from your order. Email us with your order number to get them.
What is your refund policy?
If a document is wrong, missing or not as described, tell us within 14 days of your order. We fix it or refund you. If you have not downloaded yet, we can cancel the order and refund you in full. We don't refund a change of mind after download. See the Refund policy.
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Tell us which scheme you work to. We will point you to the right toolkit.
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