Post by Etifor | Valuing Nature

21 participants and 2 days. Two weeks ago, we ran our first GSTC training course in Sardinia, and it exceeded expectations in the best possible way 👇 The course, organised together with the Tavolo del Turismo di Badesi and GSTC Italy Working Group, hosted by Resort Le Dune, focused on sustainable tourism and covered the full Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria framework for destinations, accommodations, and tour operators. Our experts, Federica Bosco and Martina Catte, led the 21 participants through lectures, group exercises, and direct comparison with certified case studies, keeping the focus on practical application rather than theory alone. During the course, we also had the chance to present and listen to the experiences of two certified case studies: the Comune di Siena and Hotel Moresco in Venice. Their shared experience brought something that no slide can fully replicate: firsthand experience of what the process actually demands. Both were clear on a few points that are worth sharing: ▶️ Certification requires a genuine investment in people and in budget ▶️ It is a starting point, not a finish line ▶️ It changes how you work: more structured, more systemic, with stakeholders actively involved rather than consulted after the fact 🍷 The final afternoon took us out of the classroom and into the territory: a guided walk through Badesi's vineyards and coastal dune system. A reminder that sustainable tourism always starts with knowing where you are. ⚠️ A second edition is being considered. If you work in tourism and want to stay informed, the link to register your interest is in the first comment.