Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) advances sustainable travel and tourism by developing and managing internationally recognized sustainablity standards, promoting their adoption worldwide, accrediting certification bodies, providing education and professional training, supporting destination stewardship, and fostering collaberation among governments, businesses, destinations, educational institutions, and civil society organizations to encourage responsible tourism practices.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 71%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $82,000
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $472,873 spent. Accreditation Services and Auditor Training: GSTC operates an international accredition and assurance program for certification bodies that assess hotels and accomodations, tour operators, and destination against the GSTC Standards or GSTC-Recognized Standards. GSTC does not directly certify tourism businesses, rather, it evaluates and accredits qualified certification bodies to promote credible, impartial, and consistent sustainablity certification. During 2025, GSTC worked with 16 accredited certification bodies and seven accredition applicants. Certification bodies accredited by GSTC reported over 3500 certified hotels and accomodations, over 50 certified tour operators, and over 50 certified destinations worldwide. GSTC also conducted 16 auditor-training courses for approximately 400 participants. During the year, 348 auditors qualified for the hotel scope, 89 for the tour-operator scope, and 10 for the destination scope.
- $152,635 spent. Destinations and International Standards: GSTC develops and maintains global standards for sustainable tourism and provides destination-management organizations and public agencies with assessments, technical guidance, workshops and capacity building services. During 2025, GSTC completed the revision of its former Industry Standard and issued separate GSTC Hotel and GSTC Tour Operator Standards. Together with the Destination, MICE and Attraction Standards, GSTC maintained five published standard sets addressing sustainable management and socioeconomic, cultural, and enviornmental impacts. GSTC also launched a destination self- assessment tool to help destinations to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement under the four pillars of the GSTC Destination Standard. During the year GSTC completed five destination assessments, engaged with approximately 100 destination members, conducted destination workshops and advisory activities in several countries, and supported the establishment of destination stewardship councils in the Bahamas.
- $326,139 spent. Education and Training: GSTC provides education and professional training to tourism businesses, destinations, government officials, consultants, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, andother tourism stakeholders. The training program promotes practical understanding and implementation of the GSTC Standards and sustainable tourism practices. During 2025, approximately 10,000 individuals participated in GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program courses, compared with approximately 2500 participants in 2024. GSTC delivered 81 courses through global network of 79 authorized trainers. The program included courses in sustainable tourism, sustainable hospitality, sustainable tour operations, sustainable destinations, sustainable meetings and events, and accessible and inclusive travel. Approximately 82% of the course participants taking the examination passed.
- $691,148 spent. Other progam services: This include membership, conference and events, advisory services, recognition of sustainablity standards, market access initiatives, sponsorship programs, working groups, and stakeholder engagements. During 2025, GSTC had over 500 organizational members, added approximately 90 new member organizations and achieved a membership renewal rate of approximately 70%.
- Other progam services: This include membership, conference 691148. 0. 1003354.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.