THE PATH TO GSTC CERTIFICATION
As part of the certification as a sustainable holiday destination according to the GSTC Sustainability Program Tourism South Tyrol, Terra strategically supported the holiday destination Ratschings. Together with the relevant stakeholders, a vision for sustainability was developed and anchored in a clear vision and mission. Based on this, strategic fields of action for the destination were elaborated and measures to support these fields were developed.
Sustainability in tourism is of crucial importance to offer guests a destination where the environment is protected, social justice is promoted, and the economic stability of the destination is ensured.
The GSTC criteria serve as global standards for sustainability in the travel and tourism sector. They cover sustainable management, social and economic aspects, cultural impacts, and environmental aspects.
An international certification according to the GSTC standard offers numerous advantages, including compliance with the highest social and environmental standards, improved credibility, and increased attractiveness for guests who prefer sustainable tourism.
Together with the stakeholders, the “Greenteam” working group was established and integrated into the project. The Greenteam has since met regularly to monitor the progress of the projects and to contribute new ideas. After successful certification in autumn 2024, Terra will continue to support the Greenteam and the strategic projects and serve as an external driver for the Ratschings holiday destination.
KEY FACTS MERANO 2000
Project: Strategic support for sustainability certification of the destination and ongoing support in strategic projects
Terra customer since June 2023
Head office in Ratschings, Italy
4–5 employees
Website: https://www.ratschings.info
CHALLENGES DURING THE PROJECT
A central challenge was to reconcile the different interests and responsibilities of local stakeholders. It became apparent that certain expectations were directed at the tourism organization that actually fell within the responsibility of, for example, the municipality. Here, it was important to clarify expectations, categorize them correctly, and follow up and forward them in a structured manner.
Another key issue was the understanding of sustainability: In a region where nature and landscape at first glance still appear largely intact, it was necessary to demonstrate that sustainability and sustainable development go far beyond environmental aspects. Rather, they also include social components such as community cohesion, fair working conditions, regional value creation, and intergenerational future perspectives. Considerable awareness-raising was needed here to promote a holistic understanding of sustainability.
A further, forward-looking aspect concerns the coordination between various key stakeholders: The Ratschings Tourism Cooperative, the municipality of Ratschings, and the Ratschings-Jaufen cable cars are now pursuing parallel sustainability efforts—the municipality within the framework of its climate plan, the cable cars with their own sustainability strategy. One of the greatest challenges in the future will be to network these three stakeholders even more closely, define common development goals, and advance projects in sustainable development in a coordinated way. Only if all parties pull together can the transformation of the region be truly sustainable.
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RESULTS ACHIEVED
Certification according to the highest level in the GSTC Sustainability Program Tourism South Tyrol was achieved in January 2025. However, far more important seems to be the dialogue between the various interest groups that has been created through this work, which continues even after certification. As this is an ongoing process, the Greenteam plays a central role as a driving force. It consists of representatives from various sectors, including public administration, farmers, tourism, commerce, and other stakeholders. The team continuously exchanges ideas on sustainability topics and expands its dialogue through contact with the local population, associations, and clubs. In this way, the Greenteam is developing into a sustainable driver for the region. A project to promote regional cycles has already been launched, in which local agricultural products are purchased by tourism businesses, thereby supporting local farmers.
STRATEGIC FIELDS OF ACTION
Within the framework of the project, the following strategic fields of action were identified:
THE PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY – RATSCHINGS SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER ANDREA WIESER ON THE PROJECT
“One and a half years ago, Ratschings Tourism decided to further develop the region in a sustainable way. For process support, we brought in the Terra Institute as expert assistance.
Thanks to the competent support of the Terra Institute, we have now been able to successfully complete the certification process and achieve both the highest-level South Tyrol Sustainability Label (Level 3) and the internationally recognized GSTC certification. These awards underline our efforts to make the region a vibrant and authentic place for locals and guests alike. At the same time, they motivate us to continuously develop the project further, together with the Green Team and all stakeholders.
The Terra Institute has also succeeded in establishing close cooperation between the main actors in this process and in successfully networking them. We would like to further expand this approach in the future and deepen cooperation even more purposefully.
Our goal is to see certification not as a conclusion, but as a starting point for the continuous improvement of the entire destination. In this way, a long-term harmonious coexistence between guests and locals should be promoted.”
TERRA INSTITUTE CONSULTANT AND PROJECT MANAGER ALEXANDER SCHWEITZER
Alexander Schweitzer has many years of practical experience in various management positions and supports companies in the development and realisation of corporate strategies and organisations. As part of his consultancy services, he also provides clients with his in-depth marketing expertise in the B2B sector. In addition, Alexander wants to support a change in awareness towards a sustainable way of thinking and acting in companies and in people.
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