Alaska has introduced a voluntary certification system that assesses the economical, social and environmental sustainability of the country’s tourist businesses.
Launched in September the Adventure Green Alaska (AGA) certificate seeks to promote businesses that limit their environmental impact, recognise indigenous culture and assist local communities.
There are three tiers to the certificate – gold, silver and bronze – and companies that qualify are entitled to use the AGA label and participate in AGA promotional events. AGA is the first certificate of its kind in Alaska and was developed by The Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association (AWRTA) together with business owners, industry consultants, and conservation groups.
Kent John, President of AWRTA, said: “Our goal is to attract travellers to sustainable businesses and provide an economic incentive for other businesses to improve their operations. Adventure Green Alaska is good for the environment, good for communities in Alaska, and good for our bottom line.”
