More and more people are traveling to the far reaches of the globe to explore diverse cultures and natural environments. While this can bridge cultures and facilitate understanding, it can also bring waste, habitat destruction and displacement of local people and wildlife. Proactive organizations are turning this traveling trend into a win/win situation for travelers, the local cultures and the environment by developing a model for sustainable tourism, enabling businesses to gain access to and be more competitive in the marketplace, while contributing to the conservation of local culture and nature.

One of the certifying organization for sustainable tourism is Rainforest Alliance. The mission of Rain Forest Alliance is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Rainforest Alliance sets standards for sustainable tourism and provides technical assistance for certification.

For more information about Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism programs and certification, visit: Rainforest Alliance > What We Do > Tourism
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/tourism/

Rainforest Alliance runs SmartVoyager in collaboration with Conservación y Desarrollo (C&D), an Ecuador-based group. The program awards its green seal of approval to tour boat operators in the Galapagos Islands who meet a set of strict conservation standards for protecting the environment, wildlife and the well-being of workers and local communities.
Rainforest Alliance > What We Do > Tourism > SmartVoyager
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/tourism/
smartvoyager/

Another organization promoting sustainable tourism is The Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program™ (STEP). STEP works with tourism providers to improve their operating standards and has developed criteria for certification which is reviewed on an on-going basis to reflect improved industry performance standards.

Visit this site to learn about STEP:
Sustainable Tourism International > Programs > Eco-Certification
http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/
op_ecocertification.html