The State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been accepted as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The decision was made during the "Sustainable Tourism" Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden. Additionally, as part of the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Azerbaijan Tourism Board and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Under this MoU, cooperation will focus on supporting the development of sustainable tourism, aligning global sustainability standards with national policies, and implementing the GSTC criteria in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the event, Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, highlighted that Azerbaijan’s membership in the GSTC will encourage collaboration with local tourism industry partners, strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in driving sustainable transformations in global tourism, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the local tourism sector through marketing campaigns.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council was established in 2007 as a joint initiative of Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and  UN Tourism to develop the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

The council serves as a platform for sharing best practices on implementing sustainable tourism principles among global tourism businesses, government institutions, and destination management organizations. Its primary mission is to support businesses and destinations that adopt sustainable tourism practices by providing certification and ensuring the long-term sustainability of tourism destinations.