Corfu and Heraklion Team Up with GSTC and CLIA for Sustainable Tourism Development
Corfu, Ionian islands
Local authorities on Corfu and Heraklion, Crete, have teamed up with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to assess the sustainability status of each city and map out a plan for sustainable tourism.
The destination assessments of Corfu and Heraklion, to be co-funded with CLIA and conducted by the GSTC, will provide benchmark data, and explore ways for balanced development of tourism in their localities.
The sustainable assessment process will begin in December 2020 and involve three phases across a period of five months: an initial preparatory phase of research and data compilation, a second phase of on-site assessment with stakeholder engagement, and a final phase of analysis and report.
“The GSTC applauds the popular destinations of Corfu and Heraklion for taking seriously the imperative for continuous improvement in managing their destinations more sustainably. We also applaud CLIA for its active participation in these endeavors,” said GSTC CEO Randy Durband.
Heraklion, Crete
CLIA President and CEO Kelly Craig said the city leadership of Corfu and Heraklion would be commended for their commitment to mapping a sustainable future for the benefit of residents and visitors.
“While we may only be a small part of the tourism sector, we want to play a big part in helping to preserve the heritage and environment of the world’s favourite destinations,” he noted.
The GSTC Destination Assessment focuses on four main categories of destination sustainability:
- Destination management and governance
- Economic benefits to local communities
- Protection of cultural heritage, community, and visitor well-being
- Environmental protection and conservation.
ΠΗΓΗ GTP
