The Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA), University of Colombo, has achieved a significant milestone in the field of sustainable tourism education by becoming a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
The membership marks an important step in strengthening IHRA’s engagement with the global sustainable tourism community and further advancing its academic, training, research, and professional development initiatives in sustainable tourism.
About the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is an international organization that promotes sustainable tourism practices and establishes and manages the globally recognized GSTC Criteria for sustainable travel and tourism. Its membership brings together governments, tourism organizations, businesses, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable tourism.
→ Visit the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) official website
Strengthening Sustainable Tourism Education at IHRA
This achievement is particularly significant in view of IHRA’s expanding focus on tourism education and capacity building through the Unit for Human Resource Advancement in Sustainable Tourism (UHRAST).
UHRAST adopts an industry-interactive and application-oriented approach to tourism education and is developing academic and professional programmes covering areas such as sustainable tourism, tourism, events and hospitality management, mindfulness and spiritual tourism, and educational tourism.
The GSTC membership provides an opportunity for IHRA to strengthen its engagement with international developments in sustainable tourism and to further enhance the relevance of its teaching, training, research, and professional development activities.
→ Visit UHRAST – Unit for Human Resource Advancement in Sustainable Tourism
Opportunities for Global Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
Through its connection with the GSTC global network, IHRA will have opportunities to engage with a wider community of organizations and professionals working towards sustainable tourism. This can support future collaborations, knowledge exchange, professional networking, research initiatives, and the sharing of international practices in sustainable tourism.
The membership provides a valuable platform for IHRA to explore greater alignment between its tourism-related academic and professional development activities and internationally recognized academic contribution with sustainability principles and applications for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka. – Prof. DAC Suranga Silva, Director|IHRA, University of Colombo
Strengthening IHRA’s International Engagement
The achievement further contributes to the international visibility of the University of Colombo and IHRA in the field of tourism education and sustainable tourism.
It also complements the Institute’s efforts to develop UHRAST as a growing centre for sustainable tourism education and capacity-building, with a focus on Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, natural environment, communities, wellness, culinary traditions, and other tourism resources.
UN Tourism, the United Nations specialized agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, also emphasizes sustainable tourism as an important component of inclusive and environmentally responsible development.
→ Visit UN Tourism official website
A Significant Milestone for IHRA
The GSTC membership represents an important milestone in IHRA’s continuing efforts to strengthen its contribution to sustainable tourism education, professional development, research, and industry engagement.
IHRA extends its sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to this achievement and looks forward to building further international partnerships and opportunities in sustainable tourism education and development.