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 (GSTC) Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies. Its purpose is to enable certification bodies operating sustainable tourism schemes to demonstrate that they certify hotels, tour operators, destinations, and related services competently, consistently, and impartially against recognized sustainability criteria. ISO/IEC 17065 provides the underlying conformity-assessment framework, while the GSTC Accreditation Manual adds programme-specific requirements that reflect the particular characteristics of sustainable tourism certification, including the use of the GSTC Criteria as the benchmark for sustainability performance. The combined requirements apply to third-party certification bodies that certify tourism products and services and that seek GSTC accreditation. Impartiality is central: the certification body must identify and manage threats to objectivity arising from relationships, ownership, or consultancy, and must keep certification decisions independent. Competence requirements address the expertise of evaluators and decision-makers in sustainability, environmental management, social and economic issues, and the tourism sector, together with the control of any outsourced evaluation. The framework also covers structural, resource, process, and management-system requirements, including scheme management, evaluation and certification processes, surveillance, use of marks, and complaints and appeals. As ISO/IEC 17065 is part of the ISO/IEC 17000 series, this system shares the common conformity-assessment vocabulary and complements standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 where testing or inspection supports certification. Accreditation is granted by GSTC, which acts as an accreditation body for the sustainable tourism sector, drawing on ISO/IEC 17011 principles. The main benefits include credible, internationally recognized sustainability certification, reduced greenwashing, enhanced traveller and stakeholder confidence, and market access for certified tourism enterprises. Accreditation under this combined framework confirms both technical competence and alignment with globally accepted sustainable tourism standards.
Included: 57 ready-to-use, fully editable documents (manual, procedures, forms, records, checklists, guidance and training material).
License: single-organization license; delivered electronically as a ZIP archive.
From purchase to audit-ready
Buy & download instantly
Pay securely by card. Your ZIP download link appears immediately on the confirmation page and in your email.
Edit & brand as your own
Open the native Word & Excel files, add your logo and details, and adapt everything to your organisation.
Implement & get audit-ready
Roll out the manuals, procedures, forms and checklists to build a working, certification-ready system.
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. If we revise this toolkit, you're entitled to the updated version at no extra cost — just contact us with your order details.
What is your refund policy?
Because these are digital products delivered instantly, all sales are final once downloaded. If you have any issue with your files, contact us and we'll make it right. See our Refund Policy for full details.