Montepulciano certified: “Sustainable tourist destination” according to GSTC standard

The city of Montepulciano obtains international recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Mayor Angiolini: “A recognition of the actions taken, but at the same time a formal commitment towards increasingly sustainable practices, through the involvement of the community”

The Municipality of Montepulciano has obtained international certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, becoming a “Sustainable Tourist Destination”. The public ceremony for the awarding of the prestigious “Gstc – Global Sustainable Tourism Council” certificate will be held on 2 March 2024 in the Council Room of the Town Hall, reserved for entities that promote the sustainability and social responsibility of the tourism system.

“Obtaining the GSTC certification is the most prestigious achievement for tourist destinations that make sustainability a fundamental element of their offer. This is an important recognition of the actions taken, but at the same time a formal commitment to plan increasingly optimal management of tourism and more sustainable from an environmental, social and economic point of view. Montepulciano achieves an ambitious goal that places it at the center of the international panorama, we are the first among small and medium-sized municipalities to have obtained this prestigious international GSTC certification“, is the comment of the Mayor of Montepulciano, Michele Angiolini.

Starting from April 2023, the Municipality of Montepulciano has undertaken the process for certification by identifying an operational task force composed of: internal staff, University of Siena, Consorzio del Vino Nobile, Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and dei Sapori della Valdichiana Senese and Arezzo-Siena Chamber of Commerce. The working group, assisted by Valoritalia – one of the main internationally recognized professionals in the certification sector – has prepared an Action Plan to guide actions on tourism according to the precise standard criteria identified internationally by the same GSTC. For each action, one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been identified, which must help the tourist destination Montepulciano contribute to the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Landscape of Montepulciano with vineyards and historic center

“It was serious and rigorous work carried out by the entire working group and our authoritative partners, whom I thank, which allowed us to highlight the good practices already in place and to bring out the desire to improve. We have an area rich in history, culture and scenic beauty. Montepulciano is home to the Lake Nature Reserve, we are part of two historical landscapes in the National Register of the Ministry of Agriculture (the Historical Landscape of the Leopoldine reclamation in Valdichiana and the Polycultural Landscape with Pienza), we have invested in environmental and social policies that we want to continue to improve both for the benefit of residents and our welcome guests. Last but not least, we were able to count on the work of the Vino Nobile Consortium which obtained the first sustainability certification for a DOCG“, continues Mayor Angiolini.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an organization established in 2007 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to promote sustainability and social responsibility in the world of tourism . With the GSTC certification, destinations can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism through a credible and internationally recognized brand.