The validated schemes
These schemes are used by VisitBritain to promote the businesses assessed within them as being green to consumers. They are identified on the product searches of VisitBritain.com and enjoyEngland.com with the logo to the left.
Other benefits to participants in a validated sustainable tourism certification scheme are :-
• made available for press coverage
• being available to be used in digital and offline marketing campaigns, where sustainability is featured
If you are already active in sustainable tourism and want to be able to promote you credentials to consumers then you need to be participating in one of the validated schemes listed below.
Green Tourism Business Scheme
With 1667 members in Britain, the Green Tourism Business Scheme is the largest sustainability certification programme of its kind in the world. GTBS provides excellent value for money to a wide range of tourism firms with first class environmental advice and auditing. Satisfaction rates of certified firms are very high and drop out rates low, both for the smallest of tourism firms and increasingly at corporate level.
Businesses that meet the standard for a GTBS award, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement.
It is available to businesses in Scotland or England currently. For more information on the scheme visit the website, email gtbs@green-business.co.uk or call 01738 632162.
Other schemes
Other schemes are in the process of becoming a validated scheme and more information on these will be added once they are validated. If you operate a scheme and would like more information on the validation process please contact Dr Xavier Font (X.Font@leedsmet.ac.uk 0113 8125880, www.icrtourism.org)