Documents

The most recent and applicable versions of all accreditation-related documents. Always refer to the latest version before submitting or implementing any procedure.

Document TitleVersionDocument TypePublished Date
GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Destination version 2.0 (March 2025) Download document v2.0 Accreditation Manuals Mar 2025
GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies Industry Hotel Accommodation Tour Operator version 4.1 February 2025 Download document v4.1 Accreditation Manuals Feb 2025
GSTC Impartiality Policy V1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Policies Sep 2024
GSTC Privacy Policy v1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Policies Oct 2024
GSTC Whistleblowing Policy for Accreditation v1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Policies Oct 2024
Transitional Destination Certification Policy July 5 2023 v.2.0 Download document v2.0 Accreditation Policies Jul 2023
GSTC Accreditation Procedure v2.0 Download document v2.0 Accreditation Procedures Feb 2024
GSTC Compliance Assessment Procedure v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Procedures Oct 2024
GSTC Findings Procedure v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Procedures Oct 2024
GSTC Opening and Closing Meetings Procedure v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Procedures Oct 2024
GSTC Surveillance and Sampling Procedure v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Procedures Oct 2024
GSTC Witnessing Procedure v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Accreditation Procedures Oct 2024
GSTC Grievance Procedure for Accreditation v.2.0 Download document v2.0 Accreditation Procedures Sep 2024
Guidance on Sampling of Tours for the GSTC Tour Operator Certification Download document v1.0 Guidance Document May 2024
Guidance on the Grace Period for New Destination Certification Requirements Under the GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies Destination v2.0 Download document v2.0 Guidance Document -
Guidelines for the GSTC Certification Certificate v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Guidance Document Aug 2024
GSTC 2019INT01 SEC11.3.1 SKILL QUALIFICATION Download document v2.4 Interpretation Sep 2019
GSTC 2019INT02 TYPE OF SAMPLING SAMPLES SIZE Download document v2.4 Interpretation Sep 2019
GSTC 2021AMD01 SEC10.7.3 KNOWLEDGE COMPETENCIES Download document v2.4 Amendment Apr 2021
GSTC 2023INTD01 SEC.8.5.12.1 ELEMENTS OF AUDIT Download document v2.4 Interpretation Feb 2023
GSTC 2023INTD02 SEC.15.3.1 GROUP CERTIFICATION MEMBERS Download document v2.4 Interpretation Dec 2023
GSTC 2024INTD01 SEC.16.13. UNIT INTERPRETATION FOR TOUR OPERATOR 1 Download document v2.4 Interpretation Mar 2024
GSTC 2025INTD01 SEC.2.14 C.2.15 Download document v2.4 Interpretation Oct 2025
2024ACL01 TO Outbound Tourism Scope Suspension Download document v1.0 Official Letter Apr 2024
2024ACL03 Implementation Guidance on the GSTC Requirements for Hotels Performance against Eight GSTC Criteria Download document v1.0 Official Letter Apr 2024
2024ACL05 Accreditation Scope and Certification of Certified Entities in Northern Cyprus Download document v1.0 Official Letter Nov 2024
2024ACL06 Clarification on auditing D2.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Download document v1.0 Official Letter Nov 2024
2025ACL01 GSTC Guidance on Hybrid and Remote Surveillance Audits Download document v1.0 Official Letter Jan 2025
2025ACL05 Official Communication Multi site Certification Audit Requirement Download document v1.0 Official Letter Sep 2025
2025ACL06 Clarification on Legal Compliance with National Health and Safety Requirements for GSTC Certification Download document v1.0 Official Letter Sep 2025
Finalized GSTC Requirements for Hotels Performance Against Certain Criteria April 2024 Download document v1.0 Additional Requirements Apr 2024
GSTC Accreditation Fee Schedule v.3.0 (March 2025) Download document v3.0 Fee Schedule Mar 2025
GSTC Accreditation Glossary v2.0 Download document v1.0 Glossary Oct 2024
ACB Eligibility for CS CB Framework Europe Updated Download document v1.0 Others -
GSTC Certification Scheme and Certification Body CS CB Framework v.1.0 Download document v1.0 Others Sep 2024

Manual Revision History

The revision history records updates made to maintain consistency with current accreditation practices and standards.

GSTC Accreditation Manual for Certification Bodies – Destination (AM-D)

GSTC is committed to revising the Accreditation Manual through active stakeholder engagement. View public consultations for accreditation.

Interpretation, Amendment, and Additional Requirements

Document (Code)Subject / DescriptionReferenced DocumentReferenced SectionsPublished Date
2019INTD01 Download documentUnderstanding and applying the international norms for certificationAM-I v.2.411.3 Certification: Understanding and applying the international norms for certification01-Sep-2019
2019INTD02 Download documentGuidelines for the type of sampling and size of the samples to be employed in each instanceAM-I v.2.415. Sampling within the Audit01-Sep-2019
2021AMD01 Download documentAuditor Qualifications, Knowledge and SkillsAM-I v.2.410. Auditor Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills01-Apr-2021
2023INTD01 Download documentInterpretation regarding the evaluation tasks specified in the GSTC Accreditation ManualAM-I v.2.58.5. Requirements for the application of ISO 17065
ISO 17065:2012 7.4 Evaluation
01-Feb-2023
2023INTD02 Download documentInterpretation of the “Similar tourism services” for determining members of Group CertificationAM-I v.3.115. Group Certification01-Dec-2023
2024INTD01 Download documentInterpretation of “unit” in the context of certification for a Tour Operator.AM-I v.3.116. Requirements for Tour Operator01-Mar-2024
2024ACL01 Download documentSuspension of scope of certification: OUTBOUND TOUR OPERATORn/an/a01-Apr-2024
2024ACL03 Download documentHotels undergoing surveillance audits in 2025, as part of an existing certification cycle, shall be informed by the CBs on the new performance requirements. However, non-conformities related to them will be issued during 2025 surveillance auditsFinalized GSTC Requirements for Hotels Performance Against Certain Criteria April 2024 Download documentn/a01-Apr-2024
Finalized GSTC Requirements for Hotels Performance Against Certain Criteria April 2024 Download documentFinalized GSTC requirements for hotels’ performance against eight GSTC criterian/an/a01-Apr-2024
2024ACL05 Download documentClarification on the accreditation scope and certification of entities located in Northern Cyprusn/an/a01-Nov-2024
2024ACL06 Download documentClarification on implementing and auditing criterion D2.1. Greenhouse gas emissionsGSTC Industry Standard – Version 3D2.1.01-Nov-2024
2025ACL01 Download documentGuidance on hybrid and remote surveillance auditAM-I v.4.08.18 Surveillance activities01-Jan-2025
2025ACL05 Download documentOfficial Communication: Multi-site Certification RequirementAM-I v.4.0 and its subsequent revisions14.11.2 Multi-site certification01-Sep-2025
2025ACL06 Download documentClarification on Legal Compliance with National Health and Safety Requirements for GSTC Certificationn/an/a01-Sep-2025
2025INTD01 Download documentInterpretation of “Local Office” in the Context of Tour Operator CertificationAM-I v.4.1 and its subsequent revisionAnnex C 2.14-2.1501-Oct-2025

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