The process of Certification of Tourism Sustainability is quite simple. First, interested companies or communities that provide tourism services and that are interested in becoming certified submit a simple form (Form N°1: Request for Certification) soliciting, either to Tourism Certification International, the Regional Representation or straight to the Country Representation, their interest in beginning the process of certification, and, too, cancelling the certification fees. These fees may change from place to place, and they basically cover the auditors work. Right after this formal request, the tourism operator is contacted and a coordinated process begins. Here the Certification of Tourism Sustainability process has officialy begun.

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This important step means that the applicant company is commited in becoming sustainable, and whatever is the level of compliance with the standards the company is decided to embark in this process. From here, the company is authorized to use the seal of Certification of Tourism Sustainability.

Then, the company is requested to send a Pre-Auditing paper, and this will serve as a base line to support further auditing processes. The Pre-Auditing paper is: i) a summarized baseline of the tourism operations and sustainability conditions (according to a already defined scheme) and, ii) a self auditing process –under oath- developed by the applicant and based on the standards. If the company does not fulfill the standards it may receive technical assistance and support to strengthen its sustainability.

After this, and previously coordinated, the Auditing takes place. It means that auditors, and the company’s staff, visit the company’s tourism operations and rate the sustainability of the company and also prepare a confidential report -describing the findings of the auditing process- that is delivered to the company.

If there is the case that the company fulfills most of the standards it may obtain the title of ‘graduated’. If not, it will continue ‘in process’, or ‘in adaptation’, which are previous levels to graduation. In the case the company does not graduate, it is given a time, according to a concerted and mutually agreed plan, to adapt its operations. After the plan is implemented, a new auditing process takes place.

The company benefits in many ways by becoming certified. One of these is that by obtaining this certification, the company accesses broadly to growing sensitized public concerned that tourism activities should respect the environment and their societies.