The destination has an effective organization, department, group, or committee responsible for a coordinated approach to sustainable tourism, with involvement by the private sector, public sector and civil society. This group has defined responsibilities, oversight, and implementation capability for the management of socio- economic, cultural and environmental issues. The group is adequately funded, works with a range of bodies in delivering destination management, has access to sufficient staffing (including personnel with experience in sustainability) and follows principles of sustainability and transparency in its operations and transactions.
Example: The Bahamas
The Bahamas partnered with GSTC to provide structural support and training to establish Destination Stewardship Councils (DSCs). There are eight destination stewardship councils to date, namely within the destinations of Abaco, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Inagua, North Andros and South Andros and Mangrove Cay. In 2022, The Bahamas Destination Stewardship Initiative won the Caribbean Tourism Organizations Destination Stewardship Award.
