Sustainable Tourism

• Training modules -- from one day seminars to multi day workshops, we provide tourism businesses with the tools and know-how they need to manage their business sustainably through best practices
• Technical Assistance -- businesses work together with our qualified sustainable tourism assessors to create a sustainability management plan tailored to the business' needs
• Verification Visits -- an assessor makes an on-site visit to evaluate the business on its application of sustainability practices, so that management can see where they are doing well and where they need to improve
• Marketing benefits -- businesses that fulfill certain requirements (see below) are eligible to receive promotional benefits from the Rainforest Alliance, including use of the Rainforest Alliance Verified mark, representation in local and international trade shows, and inclusion in promotional Web sites and printed materials

Please see our brochure -- Guiding the Tourism Industry Toward an Environmentally, Socially and Economically Sustainable Future -- for more details.

All of our tools and modules are aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Watch some testimonial videos from business owners or managers that have received verification services (in Spanish).

• Clean technologies
• Waste management and recycling
• Carbon offsetting
• Preserving and reviving local culture and heritage
• Quality in service
• Administration and planning
• Biodiversity conservation
• Green marketing
• Gender equality as a mirror of the social commitment of the business

By working on improving their environmental, social and economic practices, tourism businesses:

• Ensure the future of their water and energy sources and natural and cultural treasures so that they can thrive for years to come
• Improve their bottom line and cut costs by learning how to save energy, use less water, and reduce staff turnover
• Give their guests a more authentic, memorable and satisfying experience, by assuring them that they can feel good about choosing their business
• Prepare for certification with one of the members of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas or, in the future, a Tourism Sustainability Council accredited program
• Improve their competitiveness by reaching international markets that are increasingly demanding sustainable services
• Receive marketing and promotional benefits from the Rainforest Alliance (see our brochure for more details)

• The Rainforest Alliance offers verification services to hotels, restaurants, and inbound tour operators interested in improving their environmental, social and economic practices
• Qualifying tourism businesses must have been legally established for a minimum of one year and must follow all of their country's laws as a prerequisite to participation
• See all of the requisites necessary to participate

• Have a valid, signed verification agreement with the Rainforest Alliance (see above)
• Meet at least 50% of established Rainforest Alliance requisites for best management practices -- which are aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria -- on verification visits performed every 18 months
• See all of the requirements necessary to become Rainforest Alliance Verified

Like certification, verification is an important way to evaluate a business' commitment to sustainability and measure its progress. It is also used to determine which businesses deserve greater recognition and exposure in the marketplace. However, verification differs from certification in several ways:

• Verification is a tool to help businesses by offering them concrete recommendations to improve their performance
• Verification is also an important stepping stone for businesses to become certified and as part of the rules of our program, businesses operating in a country with an active certification program must apply for certification within a period of two years of signing the verification agreement
• For businesses that are already certified, they can enter our verification program in order to improve their sustainability performance (as long as they maintain their certification)
• For businesses that operate in countries where no certification program exists, verification will give them a benchmark so that they know where they stand in terms of their sustainability performance

Once the Tourism Sustainability Council begins accrediting certification programs, we will require that Rainforest Alliance Verified businesses become certified with one of these, if available in the country where the business operates.

Until then, we recognize and promote certifications with programs that are members of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas.

There are over a hundred certification programs already out there, so instead of creating yet another one, we decided to focus our efforts on providing training in the field to increase the supply of sustainable businesses available, and educate consumers about the importance of their travel choices to increase the demand for these services.

We also believe it is important to have an international standard for certification programs, to help certified businesses increase their credibility and help consumers and governments identify which businesses are living up to their sustainability claims. To this end, the Rainforest Alliance, along with the United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN World Tourism Organization, and hundreds of other organizations, support the Tourism Sustainability Council, which, among other tasks, "certifies the certifiers" and makes sure they measure up to internationally defined standards.

There may be funds available to partially or fully subsidize our verification services, depending on the country where the business operates. For more information, please write to sustainabletourismfees@ra.org.

Please write to sustainabletourism@ra.org.