TourCert Latina
Strengthening Local Value Creation in Latin America
With the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), we implemented the TourCert Latina project from 2015 to 2019. Starting in Peru and Ecuador under the name TourCert Andina, we successfully expanded the TourCert system to Colombia and Costa Rica. In doing so, we contributed to creating better prospects for people in Latin America through sustainable tourism. Even after the project’s completion, the local community remains highly engaged. Certified businesses are already developing new products and building cooperation networks across countries and continents.
“In the future, it will no longer matter whether we can travel everywhere, but whether it is still worth arriving there.”
Hermann Löns
Our Goal – Strengthening Local Tourism Stakeholders
For us, the key is empowerment. By raising awareness and providing training on social and environmental challenges, we enable local actors to develop independently and sustainably—driven by their own initiative and conviction.
Through the TourCert qualification program, stakeholders gain new skills and help expand sustainable tourism practices. This creates long-term employment opportunities for local communities while reducing negative impacts on culture and the environment.
At the same time, this benefits international tour operators by enabling them to future-proof their value chains.
Step by Step
Working together toward certification
Building networks
Training on the ground
Assessment and certification
Ensuring Quality and Building Strong Networks
Strengthening the Community
Our Impact
Milestones in South America
Since the launch of TourCert Latina in May 2015, significant progress has been made:
Transfer
We successfully adapted the TourCert system, originally developed in Germany, to local conditions in Latin America, establishing independent structures in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica.
Qualification
A total of 26 local consultants and 13 auditors were trained, exceeding initial targets. Additionally, 287 individuals qualified as sustainability managers, and nearly 2,500 training sessions and e-learning courses were delivered.
Scaling and outreach
The local network continues to grow, with strong demand for TourCert certification expanding into areas such as community-based tourism. Local offices and partner organizations represent TourCert on the ground and continuously expand the community.
Growth
During the project, 81 businesses and destinations achieved certification with the “TourCert Seal,” including four full destinations. Another 63 organizations were awarded the entry-level “TourCert Check,” and 14 additional companies are currently in the certification process.
The destination-based approach developed by TourCert proved particularly successful, exceeding all expectations. By certifying four sustainable destinations with a total of 170 partner businesses, the project achieved a broad and far-reaching impact.
Cooperation
We established a strategic partnership with the Tourismusministerium Ecuador (MINTUR), positioning TourCert as a national certification system. In Colombia, we built a cooperation with Asociación de Turismo Responsable (ACOTUR).
Status: June 2019
Winner of the EcoTrophea 2016
Since 1987, the Deutscher Reiseverband (DRV) has honored initiatives that exemplify environmental protection and social responsibility in tourism. In 2016, our project prevailed against 27 competitors and won the EcoTrophea 2016, often referred to as the “Oscar” of sustainable tourism in Germany.
Viva América Latina!
Building on these achievements, the TourCert team and its local partners are highly motivated to expand the system further across Latin America. Additional companies and destinations are already in the process of certification—clear evidence of the project’s lasting impact in making tourism in Latin America more sustainable and equitable.
Do you have any questions?
We’d be happy to discuss our services with you and help you find the solution that best fits your needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
Angela Giraldo
Partner I Head of Empowerment