Page 161 - Sustaining Accommodation SMES

8.4 Regulation

integrating iso 21401 into tourism legislation
and policy agendas
Embedding iso 21401 within tourism legislation and strategic policy
frameworks can strengthen coherence and reduce fragmentation across
sustainability initiatives. Public authorities can support this integration
by:
• Referencing iso 21401 explicitly in national and regional tourism
strategies as a recognised framework for sustainability management
in accommodation.
• Aligning climate adaptation, circular economy, and destination de-
velopment policies with the principles and requirements of the stan-
dard.
• Recognising the mast Protocol and related tools as official or rec-
ommended instruments supporting iso 21401 implementation at
firm level.
Such integration provides greater clarity for accommodation providers
by aligning requirements and terminology across sustainability frame-
works. It reduces duplication between parallel schemes, lowers admin-
istrative burdens, and supports more consistent implementation across
policy domains, enabling more effective coordination and uptake of sus-
tainable practices.

alignment with european policy frameworks
iso 21401 is closely aligned with key European policy frameworks, in-
cluding the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan,
and the eu Transition Pathway for Tourism. Embedding the standard
within national tourism policies can support coherence between firm-
level sustainability management and eu level objectives. In this context,
policymakers can:
• Reference iso 21401 as a supporting instrument for achieving eu
climate, circular economy, and sustainability objectives in tourism.
• Use the standard to support compliance with emerging eu report-
ing and accountability requirements related to sustainability perfor-
mance.
• Position iso 21401 as a practical mechanism linking policy ambition
with operational implementation in the accommodation sector.
Such alignment strengthens the role of iso 21401 as part of a broader
policy mix supporting the eu sustainable transition agenda.

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