HANDBOOK 4
FINANCING TOURISM CERTIFICATION
PROGRAMS
A publication of the Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
Together with
Disclaimer:
The opinions and concepts expressed in this document are the responsibility of the authors and
do not necessarily represent the opinion of the sponsoring organizations.
Authors:
Abigail Rome, with assistance from Amos Bien, Alice Crabtree, Aimee Russillo, and
Martha Honey
Acknowledgments:
Thanks to Michael Conroy, Xavier Font and Jorge Rivera for reviewing early drafts of
this handbook and financing certification report. Thanks to Katrina Shum, Tammy Gao,
David Krantz, and Katherine Sleeman for help with copy editing and design.
Thanks to the IDB/MIF (Inter-American Development Bank’s Multilateral
Investment Fund) for providing a grant to produce this handbook series.
Cover Photo: Martha Honey, Certification plaques at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica
Who should use this guide?
This guide is part of a series of handbooks on sustainable tourism certification. It is
based on a study which analyzed the financial sustainability of 40 tourism and other
“green” industry certification programs from around the world and examined priorities
and interests of 14 funding organizations. These handbooks are based on studies done
by the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) and The
International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in collaboration with Rainforest Alliance and the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The report upon which this guide is based, the
other
handbooks,
and additional
related materials may be
found at
www.ecotourismcesd.org. This collection of resources is designed to help certification
practitioners and interested supporters advance tourism certification so that it becomes
a useful and reliable tool for travel consumers and businesses to recognize and apply
the principles of sustainable tourism.
Achieving financial stability has been a central cha