September 27, 2023
Terrace BC, CANADA – Today, on World Tourism Day, Kermodei Tourism announced they have been awarded GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism Destination Certification by way of a rigorous assessment, review, and verification process. The seven month long process required the destination to assess their sustainability performance across four categories; environmental, socio-economic, natural and cultural, and management using GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism Destination Standard. The Standard has been formally recognized as meeting the criteria for sustainable destination management by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and is in alignment with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Liz Smaha from Kermodei Tourism says, “We are proud to be the second destination in British Columbia to receive our certification through the GreenStep program. It demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and underscores our desire to pursue and promote more sustainable practices in our sector as the tourism industry in the area continues to grow.”
Following the destination assessment review, and through the submission of extensive evidence, a team of GreenStep advisors thoroughly evaluated the evidence to ensure acceptability in line with the requirements for Certification. Kermodei Tourism has been awarded a bronze level grading and has achieved the GreenStep Destination Certification designation.
“We congratulate Kermodei Tourism on becoming the second destination in British Columbia Certified to the GreenStep standard. This achievement is the culmination of efforts from their team to provide extensive evidence for verification by a GreenStep assessor, and move through an action planning process to highlight areas for improvement. We look forward to seeing their progress as they activate their action plan and support the entire tourism industry and destination to adopt more sustainable practices in the years to come.” – Jenn Burling, Director of Sustainable Tourism
About GreenStep
GreenStep was founded in 2008 to help small to medium-sized enterprises measure and improve their sustainability performance. To date, the organization has worked with more than 3000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, in a variety of industries such as tourism and hospitality, retail, professional services, and manufacturing. Through the Sustainable Tourism Division, GreenStep provides assessments, training, strategy and certifications to tourism businesses and destinations. GreenStep is the only Canadian-based provider of sustainable tourism certifications that are relevant to all tourism businesses and destinations. For more information, visit www.greensteptourism.com
About Kermodei Tourism
Kermodei Tourism Society is the Destination Management Organization that represents tourism industry stakeholders in Terrace and the surrounding region. It works to develop, support and promotes tourism and marketing initiatives in the greater Terrace area.
Contact GreenStep Solutions
Angela Nagy, President/CEO
GreenStep Solutions Inc.
250-215-7714
angela@greenstep.ca
Contact Kermodei Tourism
Liz Smaha, Executive Director
Kermodei Tourism
250-641-8722
execdir@tourismterrace.org
