GoGood Criteria
GoGood connects good travelers with good places and experiences
to generate positive and meaningful impacts for visitors and destinations.
So what do we mean by “good” travel?
Good travelers are thoughtful people who travel to enrich their lives and expand their knowledge. They’re curious about the world, and enjoy learning about new places and cultures. They love the diversity of nature and culture, and connecting meaningfully with the places and people they encounter.
They care about the wellbeing of local people and wildlife and want to avoid harming them. They want their visits to have a positive impact and help sustain what makes a place special—particularly things passed down for generations. They are also called responsible or conscious travelers. GoGood makes their type of travel easy.
Good places and experiences are authentic, sustainable attractions, businesses, and itineraries that represent the unique character of a place and contribute to the wellbeing of its people and environment. They are recommended by local experts, and are mostly locally-owned and managed.
Some are well-known and may be crowded at peak times, but have the capacity and guidelines to effectively manage their visitors. Others are hidden gems that lay off-the-beaten-path. They provide some of the most traditional and authentic local experiences, with opportunities for meaningful connection and positive impact.
Indigenous and Rural places and experiences are a major focus of the GoGood app. These communities have been economically and socially marginalized, with little compensation or recognition for the land and resources taken from them. They receive few benefits from tourism, and have historically been excluded from tourism development and planning.
To help sustain these communities and elevate their authentic tourism experiences, GoGood connects and collaborates with them throughout our travel guide research and editorial process. Representatives of these communities are key members of the GoGood global and local curation teams.
How are places on GoGood selected and scored?
Good tourism businesses listed in the GoGood app have assessed and pledged to improve their environmental and social impact and management practices. They are scored across the following twelve dimensions of sustainability and community impact,* which is presented in a sustainability scorecard on their GoGood app profile. They have committed to have their assessment independently verified on a regular basis.
Has a transparent sustainability management plan, regularly measures progress, and communicates policies and achievements with employees, guests, and stakeholders.
Ensures the well-being of guests, employees, and local communities by promoting health and safety, providing fair working conditions, and supports local initiatives and charities.
Provides fair wages and training opportunities, promotes diversity and inclusion, and ensures a healthy work-life balance. Treats staff fairly and empowers them with skills.
Minimizes energy consumption and carbon emissions by implementing energy-efficient practices, using renewable energy, and encouraging low-impact activities and transportation options.
Minimizes waste by reducing single-use plastics, recycling materials, composting organic waste, and encouraging guests to participate in waste reduction efforts.
Implements water-saving measures such as low-flow faucets, recycles gray water, educates guests on water conservation, and minimizes water pollution.
Takes steps to prevent pollution from noise, light, runoff, erosion, ozone-depleting substances, and air, water, and soil contaminants.
Supports sustainability by sourcing local, organic, and seasonal products, minimizing food waste, reducing packaging, and prioritizing ethical and sustainable suppliers.
Protects biodiversity, conserves ecosystems, and minimizes the environmental footprint through responsible land use and conservation efforts to safeguard natural habitats and species.
Promotes and respects local traditions, engages with the local community, and supports cultural heritage by preserving historic sites and fostering cultural exchange.
Owners live in the local community and may have ancestral or Indigenous roots in the region.
The sustainability and community impact of the business or product are regularly audited and verified by an accredited third-party certification body.
GoGood amplifies and rewards the most authentic and sustainable places and experiences by providing targeted access to the large, growing market of good travelers.
Businesses whose sustainability has been independently verified by a Travalyst-compliant certification body or are B Corp certified are invited to be featured in the GoGood app. They are awarded a premier status symbol along with their GoGood Score. Uncertified businesses must obtain an independent verification from a certification authority within two years to remain on GoGood.
Among the 60+ Travalyst-compliant certifications, we recommend Green Destination’s Good Travel Seal and B Lab’s B Corp certifications as robust and affordable options for small businesses.
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* The first ten dimensions of the GoGood Score correspond with Green Destinations’ Good Travel Scan and the last two are specific to GoGood. The free self-assessment survey takes about 30 minutes to complete. It helps businesses evaluate where they stand in their sustainability journey and identify potential areas of improvement. It gives them a standardized starting point to pursue formal sustainability verification and provides transparency to guests and industry peers.
To be listed on GoGood, tourism businesses must meet these criteria:
1) Be “visitor ready” – i.e. respond to inquiries, maintain a website or social media page, operate legally with relevant licenses and permits.
2) Total GoGood Score of 50% or higher.
3) Commit to improving their score every year.
4) If not already certified by a Travalyst-compliant authority or B Lab, receive an audit within a year.
5) Receive independent audits every 2 years.
6) Pay Annual GoGood Membership Fee based on company size and owner location.**
Destination stewardship organizations and tourism departments are invited to collaborate with GoGood to build out the GoGood travel guide for their region, and use the process to advance their stewardship plans.
Contact us below to nominate your destination or business to be featured on GoGood.
Learn more about sponsoring and participating in the GoGood travel guide development in your region.
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** Membership fees for larger, foreign-owned businesses help smaller locally-owned businesses obtain independent third party verification and help fund local nonprofit sustainability projects.
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