Control Union – Tourism

Tourism

    About the industry

    Tourism

    The travel and tourism sector is recovering strongly after the pandemic. It is expected that it will not take long before previous records- will be reached again. At the same time, there is also a strong call in the sector to build back better.

    Tourism needs to be managed responsibly to create a positive cycle of impacts on local communities, culture, environment and economies. This requires responsibility and actions from tourism businesses and other stakeholders and provide plenty challenges and opportunities in the sector.

    Sustainable Tourism Certification

    Sustainable tourism certifications are designed to voluntarily assess and monitor the environmental and social impacts of tourism organizations or destinations that facilitate tourism activities. Independent competent verification of the sustainability performance of tourism business can be done by accredited certification bodies.

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    On site audits to make sure the business is compliant with sustainability criteria

    Different sustainability criteria

    To the consumer, these labels indicate that a baseline of generally accepted requirements for sustainable tourism is met and that the company is committed to a sustainable approach to the environment and the local community in a particular destination.

    • Social policy (i.e. human rights, fair labour, and child protection)

    • Environmental impact (i.e. CO2 emissions, water, waste, biodiversity, animal welfare)

    • Supply chain and procurement

    • Business partners

    • And more

    How you benefit

    Control Union & GSTC certification

    GSTC is the global standard or norm for sustainable tourism and is comparable to other frameworks like MSC or FSC. In addition, GSTC Certification is a third party audit of a tourism business to the GSTC standard.

    Control Union is a GSTC accredited Certification Body. GSTC Accreditation plays an important role to assure impartiality, quality, competence and credibility of the process and the certification itself.

    More information about the GSTC certification

    We can offer certification against GSTC Industry standards for Hotels, & Tour Operators and Excursions & In addition, we can offer many other certification and validation programmes that hotels and tour operators might be interested in.

    We can offer many other certifications and validation programmes. For example, in food safety, ISO norms, social compliance, carbon calculation. For more information, go to the other pages of our scroll down menu on this page.

    Our sustainable tourism certification standard

    Green Choice Certification

    We created the Green Choice certification in 2013 as a sustainable tourism standard that is based on policies already established around the world and adapted to local conditions.

    It’s main objective is to promote sustainable tourism and create greater environmental awareness and increase the preservation of biodiversity.  It is recognised by Travalyst as a sustainability certification compliant with its criteria.

    Our certification services

    Control Union delivers quality inspections for asset owners globally, with local knowledge for uniform and consistent services. Efficient planning and clear reporting are key.

    Administrative checks

    Administrative checks

    The customised Administrative Control service ensures the efficient and effective processing of administrative documents such as transaction certificates, invoice declarations and goods movements. Essential for demonstrating sustainability, safety and quality.
    Due diligence

    Due diligence

    The customised Due Diligence service helps companies comply with legal obligations by implementing a Due Diligence System (DDS), which is essential for importers under certain government regulations. Control Union is always up-to-date with the constantly changing regulations, has a large international network and has many years of experience in supporting the implementation of DDS.
    Reporting, tracking and tracing

    Reporting, tracking and tracing

    Control Union Certifications registers all relevant data during a certification process, including the name of employee involved as well as the process behind any decision that was made.
    Sampling and sealing

    Sampling and sealing

    Sampling and sealing ensures that samples are taken and sealed correctly, preventing contamination and enabling reliable laboratory analyses. Incorrect sampling can lead to unreliable test results and compliance issues. This service guarantees the integrity of samples. This service can also be part of the certification process or purchased separately.
    Supplier audits 

    Supplier audits 

    Supplier audits provide insight into the performance and compliance of your suppliers through (on-site) audits, which are essential for quality assurance and risk management. A lack of insight into supplier practices can lead to quality issues and reputational risks. This service offers transparency and control.