Welcome to the official ISO/TC 228 website!

 

WHO WE ARE

ISO/TC 228 is a technical committee created in 2005 to develop international standards for tourism and related services. Today, it brings together experts from more than 100 countries, along with liaison organizations, working together to advance global good practices in tourism.

The committee has published more than 60 International Standards and is currently developing around a dozen new standards and projects covering areas such as digital and smart tourism, accommodation and restaurant services, adventure and experiential tourism, sustainable practices and staff training.

 

---

 

OUR MISSION

ISO/TC 228 is a technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) responsible for developing internationally accepted standards for terminology and specifications of the services offered by tourism service providers, including related activities, touristic destinations and the requirements of facilities and equipment used by them, to provide tourism buyers, providers and consumers with criteria for making informed decisions.

 

---

 

CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER WORLD

Tourism is booming, bringing with it substantial opportunities to contribute to sustainable development. World Tourism Day is the day to draw attention to how tourism can improve our world. ISO standards play a key role.

Full note on the link

 

---

 

WHY TOURISM MATTERS

Tourism is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic economic sectors. Over the past decades, it has experienced continuous expansion and diversification, becoming a key driver of economic growth, employment, and cultural exchange worldwide.

An increasing number of destinations have invested in tourism development, recognizing its role in supporting local economies, generating export revenues, and fostering infrastructure and community development.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)'s report, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed around 10% of global economy in 2024, generating USD 10.9 trillion in economic value and supporting approximately 357 million jobs worldwide, equivalent to one in ten jobs globally.

Tourism also plays an important role in international trade and global connectivity, facilitating the movement of people, ideas and cultures across borders while supporting sustainable development in destinations around the world.

More information and data on global tourism trends are available from UN Tourism and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

 

---

 

OUR STRUCTURE

ISO/TC 228 carries out its work through a number of Working Groups (WGs), each focusing on specific areas of tourism and related services. The committee currently includes the following working groups:

 

• ISO/TC 228/WG 1 - Diving service
• ISO/TC 228/WG 3 - Tourist information and reception services
• ISO/TC 228/WG 7 - Adventure tourism
• ISO/TC 228/WG 13 - Sustainable tourism
• ISO/TC 228/WG 15 - Accommodation
• ISO/TC 228/WG 16 - Restaurants
• ISO/TC 228/WG 19 - Online travel agencies (OTA)
• ISO/TC 228/WG 20 - Business tourism
• ISO/TC 228/WG 21 - Semantics applied to tourism
• ISO/TC 228/WG 22 - Smart tourism destinations
• ISO/TC 289/JWG 4 Joint ISO/TC 289 - ISO/TC 228 WG: Brand evaluation-Tourism city

 

In addition to these working groups, a Chair Advisory Group (CAG) supports the Chair and Secretariat in matters related to coordination, planning and the overall management of the committee’s work.

An Advisory Group (AG) is also established to support communication and engagement activities of ISO/TC 228.