GSTC Member, Lanzarote hosted a full-day programme at Jameos del Agua on the 28th of November, bringing together government representatives, international organizations, and tourism professionals to reaffirm the relevance of the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30 within the framework of its ‘World Conference on Sustainable Tourism’, organized by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands.
The event, framed within the symbolic setting where the original Charter was launched three decades ago in 1995, emphasized the need to align global efforts around clear standards, verified data, and rigorous communication.
The day opened with institutional interventions from Spanish national and regional authorities, followed by three thematic sessions addressing overtourism, transparency and trust, and regeneration and innovation. Speakers from The Travel Foundation, the European Travel Commission, Amadeus, NECSTouR, Visit Finland, and Microsoft, among others, addressed the need for evidence-based approaches, robust verification mechanisms, and collaborative governance structures.
Lanzarote honors GSTC Chair, Luigi Cabrini’s Commitment to Sustainability
During the event, Luigi Cabrini, President of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), expressed his appreciation for the organisers’ gesture on honoring his trajectory and commitment to sustainability and noted the long-standing relationship between the GSTC and Lanzarote. He recalled that the island was the first place where the GSTC Destination Standard was applied (2012) and indicated that the recently published GSTC Attraction Standard will also be implemented there in the coming weeks, since the Timanfaya National Park, located in the southwest of Lanzarote, joined as one of the First GSTC Attraction Early Adopters.
“We believe that global standards—born from rigorous technical work, legitimized through public consultations, and approved by consensus—are an effective tool for planning and implementing strategies that lead to tourism which maximizes benefits while reducing negative impacts,” mentioned Mr. Cabrini.
GSTC Endorses the Global Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30
During the event, the Proposal for the Endorsement of the renewed Global Charter for Sustainable Tourism was formally presented. Luigi Cabrini signed the proposal on behalf of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reaffirming the organization’s support for the updated Charter. This endorsement highlights the strong alignment between the GSTC’s mission and the renewed framework outlined in the Charter +30, which aims to serve as a guide toward a more responsible and sustainable future.
Principles of the Charter
Principle 1: Promote the culture of peace through tourism.
Principle 2: Strengthen environmental solidarity and the regeneration of natural resources.
Principle 3: Encourage cooperation for the safeguarding of cultural heritage, both material and immaterial, among all tourism stakeholders.
Principle 4: Strengthen the common commitment to unite all agents to transform tourism and make it effectively contribute to climate action.
Principle 5: Promote innovation and the adoption of sustainable technologies.
Principle 6: Limit overtourism and its harmful effects.
Principle 7: Increase the capacity to imagine and create new sustainable tourism forms and products.
Principle 8: Promote and demand economic and social justice in tourism.
Principle 9: Activate the engines of change: education, awareness, and dissemination of good practices.
Principle 10: Establish codes of conduct, instruments, and proactive frameworks to ensure the sustainability of tourism.
Principle 11: Forge alliances to consolidate a sustainable tourism future.
The complete recording of the event can be viewed here:
–
More information about the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30 can be found here.
Photos © Turismo Lanzarote
