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STEP Application | STEP User's Guide | Intro to Eco-Certification
STEP Required Paperwork | STEP LOGIN
SMALL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM
Small businesses, including indigenous and local guides as well as community-based tourism initiatives have been overlooked by most sustainable tourism certification programs. To address this need, STI is currently developing an eco-certification program for these segments of the travel and tourism industry.
THREE STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
STEP is designed to assist tourism providers in measuring their environmental, economic, and social-cultural impacts while enhancing positive impacts and mitigating negative impacts:
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ECO-CERTIFICATION IN THREE STEPS
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STEP 1:
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Performance Requirements – Self-Audit. Small businesses and community-based tourism initiatives that wish to be Eco-certified are required to conform with a general set of STEP Performance Requirements and Performance Requirements that are applicable to their category or niche within the industry. Applicants are also required to sign an affidavit and provide references.
To provide applicants with an opportunity to improve upon their performance, niche-specific performance requirements are detailed in question format within the Self-Audit questionnaire. This educational-based tool encompasses a set of standards and related questions with weighted point values designed to help determine the extent to which a business meets the principles of sustainable development. For more information, review the Rating System section.
A STEP User's Guide is also available on-line to assist tourism providers in improving their Self-Audit ratings. Interested companies will also be referred onto qualified consultants.
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STEP 2:
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Evaluation. The STEP voluntary Evaluation Committee will then review the applicant’s application and make the determination of whether or not to certify them on a provisional basis. The Evaluation Committee's decision is based on the applicant's application and professional references.
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STEP 3:
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Unannounced Spot Checks. A systematic, on-going objective evaluation and verification is then undertaken by trained STEP-certified Travelers and Auditors who document and compare each applicant’s performance with STEP Performance Requirements.
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APPLYING FOR STEP
STEP applications and corresponding performance requirements will soon be available for small businesses including guides as well as community-based tourism initiatives.
RATING SYSTEM
One, two, or three points are assigned to each question in the Self-Audit questionnaire. Two or three points are assigned to questions that encourage preventative and proactive actions towards contributing to conservation efforts and community well being. Questions involving a more reactive approach, such as doing no harm or mitigating negative impacts, will receive one or two points.
Up to 100 points are awarded for STEP principle criteria and up to 20 bonus points are awarded for best practices. Best practices refer to specific measurable indicators that demonstrate how the company is achieving exemplary performance. Applicants must provide documentation, such as photographs and reports, in a separate attachment for any proposed best practices that they would like to submit.
A final rating will be assigned to applicants based on the rating system detailed below.
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RATING SYSTEM
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Small Business (40-100+ Points). These Small Businesses have met a set of core criteria, thereby demonstrating their commitment to sustainable tourism outcomes. However, since they have not received an on-site audit from a STEP-certified Auditor, the extent to which they have integrated sustainable business practices into their operations is unknown. |
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Community-based Tourism (40-100+ Points). These Community-based Tourism initiatives have met a set of core criteria, thereby demonstrating their commitment to sustainable tourism outcomes. However, since they have not received an on-site audit from a STEP-certified Auditor, the extent to which they have integrated sustainable business practices into their operations is unknown.
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Please Note: Applicants may answer Not Applicable (N/A) for selected questions where N/A is an answer from which they may choose. Applicants who answer N/A for these selected questions will receive a final rating percentage score based only on the applicable items.
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