swot analysis of standards

8/12/2019 SWOT Analysis of Standards

1/11

Baseline criteria

Mohonk Agreement(2000) - http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=mohonk

Strengths

riteria remain !alid

"asis for most certification programs since

2000

#artial $asis for %&-' indicators and

$aseline criteria for the *mericas

+ood $alance $etween specific and general

learl, distinguishes $etween sustaina$le

tourism and ecotourism certification

pportunities

an $e reconsidered and e!aluated

alongside more recent documents for

$aseline criteria for SS.

'eaknesses

&ot updated since 2000 has $een

replaced $, more recent documents

ecent documents include additional

criteria such as greenhouse gas emissions

&ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation

nformal document

hreats

1ore recent documents could displace and

discard !alua$le criteria especiall, for

differentiating ecotourism from sustaina$le

tourism.

UN-WTO Indicators for Sustainable Tourism Certification(200) -Indicators of SustainableDevelopment for Tourism Destinations S"& 32-4-0526-7. www.world-tourism.org.

Strengths

fficial %&-' document

"ased on SS feasi$ilit, stud, 1ohonk

S 802 9S and ont and

"endell (2002) compilation of $asic

criteria. wo different t,pes of indicators:

8. certification program procedures

2. en!ironmental sociocultural and

economic criteria

pportunities

an $e reconsidered and e!aluated

alongside more recent documents for$aseline criteria for SS.

'eaknesses

ncomplete criteria for effecti!eness

;as not $een widel, accepted

ecent documents include additional

criteria such as greenhouse gas emissions


hreats

1ore recent work on indicators for 1


2/11

UN-WTO ! aims for sustainable tourisminMaking Tourism More Sustainable: a Guide for Policy

Makershttp://www.wtoeli$rar,.org/rps!/>ournal/pu$lication32404280home.htm

Strengths

fficial %&-' document

Supported $, ainforest *lliance and other

organi@ations

Aesigned as a guideline for pu$lic polic,

"road general criteria that are easil,

understood

Strong emphasis on sociocultural and

economic criteria

"reaks out of the traditional framework of

triple $ottom-line

pportunities

Bpected to $e used as a framework for

SS proposed criteria

Suita$le for re!iew of large num$er of

certification programs for %& pro>ect

'eaknesses

riented towards go!ernments for polic,

implementation not pri!ate sector

&ot designed as guidelines for certification

programs &ot !alidated $, pu$lic consultation

hreats

Baseline Criteria for the Americas - http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=network

Strengths

"ased on eBisting field-tested criteria in

use $, most certification programs in the

*mericas

*rri!ed at $, formal consensus of

certification program mem$ers of

ertification &etwork of the *mericas

pportunities



'eaknesses Bcessi!e detail in criteria

oo man, (44) criteria in total

Aoes not consider climate change or

greenhouse gas emissions


hreats Cikel, to $e su$stantiall, modified when

eBpanded for worldwide applica$ilit,

"ISIT Standard - www.!isit28.net/9Ske,criteria.html

Strengths

"ased on eBisting field-tested criteria in

use $, most important certification

programs in urope

eDuires mutual recognition

Strongl, $ased on performance

measurements

pportunities



'eaknesses

;as no specific en!ironmental social or

economic criteria.

"ased on program design and procedures

rather than sustaina$le tourism criteria.

hreats

pposed $, some uropean programs
http://www.wtoelibrary.org/rpsv/journal/publication9284408210_home.htmhttp://www.wtoelibrary.org/rpsv/journal/publication9284408210_home.htmhttp://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=networkhttp://www.visit21.net/VISIT_key_criteria.htmlhttp://www.visit21.net/VISIT_key_criteria.htmlhttp://www.wtoelibrary.org/rpsv/journal/publication9284408210_home.htmhttp://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=networkhttp://www.visit21.net/VISIT_key_criteria.html


3/11

#rinci$al certification standards in use in the %orld

Hotels

World%ide

&reen &lobe ! com$an' standard (&&!) is an international standard applica$le to tourism

$usinesses acti!ities and destinations worldwide. ts programs include $enchmarking followed

$, certification -www.greenglo$e.org

Strengths

'orldwide program esp. *sia urope

ari$$ean

+enerall, accepted as of high Dualit,

ncludes o$ligator, $enchmarking

ncludes o$ligator, auditing

an $e applied to all sectors of touristindustr,

ndependent auditors can $e accredited

an,where

Sliding scale of costs

9ersion E has reduced audit costs

pportunities

ould $e eBpanded to rest of world

*ppropriate for %& pro>ect

'eaknesses

'eak sociocultural criteria

eDuires at least 2 ,ears for certification

ompliance can $e difficult and !er,

eBpensi!e for smaller $usinesses

*udit reDuirements tend to $e !er,eBpensi!e in remote areas

9ersion E has reduced audit reDuirements

Still carr,ing $aggage of poorl, designed

!ersion 8 although this was corrected longago.

hreats

&ot widel, accepted where local

certification programs eBist that are

adapted to local conditions

Seen as competition to local programs

&reen &lobe ! International *cotourism Standard (I*S) isa +reen +lo$e program for

certif,ing ecotourism acti!ities worldwide. - www.greenglo$e.org/page.aspB?pageid=80

Strengths

Same strengths as ++28 compan, standard

Specific ecotourism criteria

or accommodations tours (not tour

operatorsF) and attractions

pportunities

ne of !er, few ecotourism standards in

eBistence so has little competition

'eaknesses

Same weaknesses as ++28 compan,

standard

9er, few trainers (2) and auditors

9er, few certified $usinesses (E)

hreats

&ot widel, known
http://www.greenglobe.org/http://www.greenglobe.org/http://www.greenglobe.org/http://www.greenglobe.org/page.aspx?page_id=104http://www.greenglobe.org/http://www.greenglobe.org/page.aspx?page_id=104


4/11

Sustainable Tourism *co-Certification #rogram (ST*#) tour operators accommodations

attractions transportationwww.sustaina$letra!elinternational.org/documents/opsteplearn.html

Strengths

Ae!eloped in colla$oration with &S with

strong eBperience in standards

de!elopment

*d>usted to different si@e $usinesses

8-7 star le!els

-step process with $aseline for

$enchmarking performance

ndependent audits

Sliding scale of fees

pportunities

&ew program that might achie!e wide

recognition

'eaknesses

&ew program with few certified $usinesses

Bceedingl, high num$er of criteria

ompleB standard

hreats

ompetes with national programs and

+reen +lo$e

ISO +,,

Strengths

'idel, accepted and well-known

international standard

*uditors are found worldwide

pportunities

ould $e implemented in an, countr,

'eaknesses

nl, e!aluates 1S

&o performance criteria or $enchmarking

&o sociocultural criteria

#rocess tends to $e !er, eBpensi!e in most

countries

Cogo cannot $e to indicate as product

certification

&o compara$ilit, $etween certified

$usinesses

hreats

mproper use for hotels in Spain could

threaten credi$ilit,
http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/op_steplearn.htmlhttp://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/op_steplearn.htmlhttp://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/op_steplearn.html


5/11

*uro$e

"ISIT standard members he 9S *ssociation (9oluntar, nitiati!es for Sustaina$ilit, in ourism)

consists of se!en ecola$els ($ased in the &etherlands tal, Aenmark Cat!ia %nited Gingdom

Swit@erland and CuBem$ourg) that together represent o!er 2000 participating tourism enterprises.

www.!isit28.net/9Scola$elsCinksocola$els.html

&reen Tourism Business Scheme (U.)was de!eloped in 8334 $, 9isitScotland (he

Scottish &ational ourist "oard). t has o!er 300 $usinesses in Scotland ranging from

croft houses and distiller, !isitor attractions in the Scottish slands to the din$urgh

nternational onference entre ma>or sporting estates and hotels as well as famil, run

self-catering cottages ,outh hostels !isitor attractions and $ed and $reakfasts. *ll

$usinesses must meet a rele!ant Dualit, standard (star rating). he scheme is $eing

adopted in ngland with 800 mem$ers in ke, destinations in Ae!on the ast of ngland"lackpool and the &orth 'est. here are E le!els of awards "ron@e for good practice

Sil!er for $est practice and +old for o!erall eBcellence in en!ironment and sustaina$le

practices. http://www.green-$usiness.co.uk

Strengths

9er, high acceptance $, pri!ate sector

Support $, municipal go!ernments

Carge num$er of certified $usinesses

ncreased occupanc, documented $,

certified $usinesses

pportunities

'eaknesses

Standard is not pu$licl, a!aila$le

ew social or communit, criteria

hreats

Ibe/-label (S%it0erland)allows Swiss hotels and restaurants to show their engagement

for all sustaina$ilit, responsi$ilities: en!ironment staff and the entire societ, as well as

economic results. * hotel is distinguished with up to 7 i$eBes. ifteen hotels in siB Swisscantons ha!e $een awarded E or 7 i$eBes to date. hese hotels encompass $oth

traditional EH to 7H hotels as well as hotels which are strongl, oriented towards

ecological issues. *ll of them - according to the la$elled le!el - care $oth for the guestIs

well-$eing as well as for nature and societ,. http://www.oe-plus.ch

Strengths

ne of the strongest uropean programs in

communit, support

pportunities

ould $e used as model for social criteria

in other uropean programs

'eaknesses

9er, few $usinesses certified

1issing some $iodi!ersit, criteria

hreats

&reen .e' (1rance 2 3enmark4 also has absorbed Milieubarometer - Netherlands)5

run $, since 2007. Since 833 he +reen Ge, has $een awarded to hotels ,outh

hostels holida, cottages and camping sites. Since 2008 +reen Ge, has $een awarded to

esta$lishments in stonia +reenland and Sweden. http://www.laclef!erte.org

Strengths

ocus on accommodation and restaurants

perated $, highl, credi$le ("lue

pportunities

+reen Ge, enlarging throughout urope
http://www.visit21.net/VISIT_Ecolabels_LinksToEcolabels.htmlhttp://www.green-business.co.uk/http://www.oe-plus.ch/http://www.oe-plus.ch/http://www.laclefverte.org/http://www.visit21.net/VISIT_Ecolabels_LinksToEcolabels.htmlhttp://www.green-business.co.uk/http://www.oe-plus.ch/http://www.laclefverte.org/


6/11

lag)

#erhaps more JrealisticJ regarding the

criteria than %-lower


'eaknesses

Cess demanding than %-lower Some strange criteria

hreats

6egambiente Turismo (Ital')Since 8335 when the certification s,stem Krecommended

eco-friendl, hotelsL was first launched in the $athing resort of iccione Cegam$iente

urismoIs scheme has $een steadil, growing. n 200 832 hotels and 6 otheraccommodation $usinesses (totalling o!er 7.000 $eds) 2 $athing esta$lishments and

20 camping sites along the coasts mountains and cities-of-art in tal, were awarded

Cegam$iente urismoIs eco-la$el with the well-known +reen Swan logo. ts criteria

include a $etter use of water and energ, resources reduced waste production good local

cuisine and $reakfast choice of organic ingredients tips to help !isitors $ecome

acDuainted with the local culture and natural en!ironment and c,cle hire.

http://www.legam$ienteturismo.itStrengths


pportunities

'eaknesses

omplies with onl, 6 of the 2 criteria

proposed

Standard has onl, 80 general criteria and

80 criteria for each region

hreats

&reen 7olida's (6at8ia)Since 8333 the green certificate has awarded rural tourism

esta$lishments in Cat!ia such as countr, homes !acation cottages guesthouses and

camping sites com$ining en!ironmental Dualit, with a high standard of ser!ices.

http://www.eco.celota>s.l!

Strengths

#romotes rural tourism

pportunities

'eaknesses

9er, few sociocultural or communit,

criteria which is unusual for rural tourism

certification.


proposed

hreats

Official *uro$ean Union $rograms

*MAS II5the uropean adaptation of S 8008 with specific performance criteria - www.emas.de

Strengths

un $, % M national competent $odies

*!aila$le for all t,pes of tourism

$usinesses/ser!ices

ncludes all sustaina$ilit, issues

pportunities
http://www.legambienteturismo.it/http://www.legambienteturismo.it/http://www.eco.celotajs.lv/http://www.eco.celotajs.lv/http://www.emas.de/http://www.legambienteturismo.it/http://www.eco.celotajs.lv/http://www.emas.de/


7/11

(en!ironment = must social = possi$le

our packages annuall, checked

'eaknesses

&o sociocultural or communit, criteria

hreats

*uro$ean Union *colabel (*U 1lo%er)for accommodation $usinesses certifies tourist accommodationser!ices and camping sites throughout the uropean union as well as other countries in urope. he

we$site has useful information for interested $usinesses including a self-check instrument.

http://ec.europa.eu/en!ironment/ecola$el/indeBen.htm

Strengths

un $, % M national competent $odies

Some o!erlap with 1*S

ocus on performance indicators

Some optional criteria related to social

issues

Some $ig hotels are certified in urope

pportunities

ould harmoni@e with 9S and other

programs in urope

'eaknesses

'idel, disliked $, pri!ate sector



hreats

*uro$ean regional or national certification or ecolabeling $rograms

The Nordic S%an 6abel (Mil9:m;rkning a8 hotel)http://www.s!anen.nu

Strengths

&ordic Swan has high consumer

recognition and credi$ilit, in other

industries

cola$el (certifies onl, the $est inindustr,)

Scandic ;otels (hotel chain)

;as solid indicators for en!ironmental

criteria

pportunities

ould $e eBpanded $e,ond Scandina!ia

'eaknesses



hreats

Blaue Sch%albe (Blue S%allo%)- www.!ertraeglich-reisen.de

Strengths

%sed in se!eral countries

pportunities

'eaknesses

Second-part, certification of its suppliers


proposed

'ill onl, certif, $usinesses that it can put

in its catalogue

hreats
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htmhttp://www.svanen.nu/http://www.svanen.nu/http://www.vertraeglich-reisen.de/http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htmhttp://www.svanen.nu/http://www.vertraeglich-reisen.de/


8/11

"IABONO(+erman,) - www.!ia$ono.de

Strengths


Solid en!ironmental criteria with some

concern a$out landscaping impacts

pportunities

'eaknesses

Second part, certification

#ri!ate for-profit organi@ation

hreats

Austrian *colabel (Um%elt0eichen f


9/11

Ae!eloped with good stakeholder

participation

ree of charge no fees or audit charge

Supported and operated $, go!ernment

tourist $oard

+ood credi$ilit, *lso a !ersion for tour operators

'eaknesses

;as not $een updated since 8336

&on-standard organi@ation

Aoes not consider greenhouse gas emission

Cong inter!als $etween recertifications can

lead to non-conformities that damage

credi$ilit,

reDuent $ureaucratic paral,sis

Shortage of auditors

Cimited to osta ica

hreats

Cack of successful pu$licit, threatens

$usiness satisfaction with program

&reen 3eal5 &uatemala - www.greendeal.org/home.html

Strengths

!aluates sustaina$ilit, and Dualit,

+o!ernment recognition

Ae!eloped with strong communit,

participation

Su$>ect to annual pu$lic consultation and

re!iew

Cow fees

pportunities

Bpansion to neigh$oring countries

("eli@e l Sal!ador ;onduras)

'eaknesses Strongl, oriented towards small $usinesses

perates with a su$stantial annual financial

loss

hreats Aependent on donations for sur!i!al

Smart"o'ager5 *cuadoris managed $, onser!aciNn , Aesarrollo an cuadorian citi@ensO group that

carries out $oth research and integrated conser!ation and de!elopment pro>ects in a num$er of rural

communities. Smart9o,ager awards its green seal of appro!al to $oats operating in the +alapagos slands

that meet a set of strict conser!ation standards. - http://www.smart!o,ager.org/

Strengths

ertifies $oats in +alapagos and lodging

throughout cuador

Supported $, &+s and cuadoriango!ernment

pportunities

'eaknesses

"usiness owners consider that some

criteria ha!e little rele!ance to o$>ecti!es

hreats

#rograma de Certifica>?o em Turismo Sustent@8el (#CTS)5"ra@il

http://www.pcts.org.$r/pu$pcts/cgi/cgilua.eBe/s,s/start.htm?sid=86
http://www.greendeal.org/home.htmlhttp://www.greendeal.org/home.htmlhttp://www.smartvoyager.org/http://www.smartvoyager.org/http://www.pcts.org.br/pubpcts/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?sid=16http://www.greendeal.org/home.htmlhttp://www.smartvoyager.org/http://www.pcts.org.br/pubpcts/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?sid=16


10/11

Strengths

#ossi$l, most ad!anced sustaina$le

tourism certification program in world

omplies with all recommended criteria

*ppro!ed after pu$lic consultation

"ra@ilian national !oluntar, standard

pportunities

ould $e used as $asis for other standards

worldwide

'eaknesses

&o certified $usinesses to date

hreats

Asia-#acific

*coCertification (N*A# III)5*ustralia is the pioneer program in the world in ecotourism certification.

t also forms the $asis for the nternational cotourism Standard (S) of +reen +lo$e 28.

www.ecotourism.org.au/ecocertification.asp

Strengths

ne of the oldest certification programs in

world 9er, strong standard

ertifies ecotourism

Carge num$er of certified products

Su$stantial go!ernment incenti!es relati!e

to access to protected areas

pportunities

'eaknesses

Aoes not certif, companiesP onl, acti!ities

*udit structure is weak and often is desk

audit onl,.

hreats

&reen 6eaf5 Thailand+reen Ceaf oundation certifies hotels and tour operators in hailand.

www.greenleafthai.org/homeen.asp

Strengths

Support from electric utilit, and ro,al

house

ull go!ernment support

pportunities

'eaknesses

#art of standard is a!aila$le onl, in hai

9er, weak on sociocultural and

communit, criteria

riented towards larger $usinesses

hreats

es$ecting Our Culture #rogram (OC) *ustralia (indigenous-run $usinesses) is an indigenous-run

certification program for indigenous tour operators and communities in *ustralia. www.rocprogram.com

Strengths

Ae!eloped $, and for indigenous

communities that accept tourism

rientation towards social and economic

$enefits for communities

pportunities
http://www.ecotourism.org.au/eco_certification.asphttp://www.ecotourism.org.au/eco_certification.asphttp://www.greenleafthai.org/home_en.asphttp://www.greenleafthai.org/home_en.asphttp://www.rocprogram.com/http://www.ecotourism.org.au/eco_certification.asphttp://www.greenleafthai.org/home_en.asphttp://www.rocprogram.com/


11/11

or $oth indigenous-run and outside

$usinesses

'eaknesses

Standard has se!eral weaknesses

hreats

Africa

1air Trade in Tourism South Africa (1TTSA)Kencourages and pu$lici@es fair and responsi$le $usiness

practice $, South *frican tourism esta$lishmentsQ through the S* rademark an independents,m$ol of fairness in the tourism industr,. he rademark is awarded to tourism esta$lishments that meet

stringent criteria.L www.fairtourismsa.org.@a

Strengths

;igh international profile

+ood international credi$ilit,

pportunities

'eaknesses

mphasis is almost entirel, social and

economic not en!ironmental

hreats

*coA%ard Namibia;eritage n!ironmental ating Scheme Kser!es to recognise and identif,

en!ironmentall, responsi$le companies and products in southern *frica.L www.heritagesa.co.@aStrengths

riented towards local conditions

Ai!ided into sections for communal lands

farms and towns

pportunities

'eaknesses

9er, weak on sociocultural and

communit, criteria

*ward rather than certification

hreats

*cotourism Societ' of .en'a (*SO.) *coating Scheme: Kcotourism Gen,a manages a certification

scheme for tourism accommodation facilities $ased on en!ironmental and social criteria.L

www.ecotourismken,a.org

Strengths

;igh Dualit, en!ironmental criteria

pportunities

'eaknesses

;as certified onl, large $usinesses

'eak social and communit, criteria

hreats
http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/http://www.heritagesa.co.za/http://www.ecotourismkenya.org/http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/http://www.heritagesa.co.za/http://www.ecotourismkenya.org/

swot analysis of standards

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