Chapter 12: Green Certifications, Indian Hospitality Businesses, and Sustainability Options

‘Eco-labelling’, ‘Eco-Certification’ in Tourism Business leads to Sustainable Practices which ultimately follow up towards good practices. The Practices not only solve the environmental issues, but address the socio-economic and cultural facets, besides, global mandates that have been signed by the nations at the global level. We are aware that travel, tourism and hospitality (TTH) provides one in ten jobs globally, and accounts for ten percent of global GDP. Thence, making it pertinent to speak about; social, economic, and environmental sustainability that the world has been speaking about. Hence, the finer aspects of assessments, accreditations, and certifications, which become standards that will enable destinations, hotels, and resorts to invite the visitor to experience sustainability. Though few assessing, accrediting, and certifying agencies the world over are making the best of efforts to assuage the finest of sustainable elements, which become marketing tools for the end user, here in case, the service providers. There have been pessimists who have focused on the appreciable facets of ‘Green washing’, that has been happening/happened, the world over. How have the TTH stakeholders in India, especially in the Hospitality sector reacted and responded? What is the future in store? Will Green certifications usher in a new dynamism?