Biosphere is a global community of responsible tourism stakeholders working towards sustainable development

In 2017, the Thompson Okanagan region became the first region in North America to achieve the prestigious Biosphere Tourism Destination Certification, with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) committed to assisting local Tourism Industry stakeholders to become involved and implement sustainable practices.

The Thompson Okanagan region is a GOLD Biosphere-certified destination and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association manages the auditing process and certification requirements on behalf of the destination.

Biosphere is the international sustainability management and certification system of the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), based on the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. With indicators developed jointly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, it is the worldwide methodology to connect DMOs, organizations, and tourists, helping the different entities define and make their sustainable strategies and objectives visible. The system of continuous improvement in sustainability includes all the international know-how and 100% online tools to evaluate, recognize, and communicate the sustainable practices of any entity in real time.