Aviomar Adventours Becomes Mexico’s First Tour Operator to Achieve GSTC Certification
UCSL United Certification Systems Ltd., a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body, proudly announces that Aviomar Adventours has become the first tour operator in Mexico to achieve GSTC Certification, the leading global benchmark for sustainability in tourism.
This achievement marks an important milestone for Mexico’s tourism sector, reflecting a broader shift toward independently verified sustainability performance across one of the world’s most visited destinations, at a time when major cruise companies are placing greater emphasis on GSTC-certified shorex providers.
The certification confirms Aviomar Adventours’ compliance with the GSTC Tour Operator Standard following a rigorous on-site audit evaluating sustainability policies and practices integrated into the company’s day-to-day operations, management systems, supplier relationships, and visitor experiences. UCSL reviewed a representative sample of excursions across archaeological, coastal, marine, biodiversity-focused, and community-based settings, assessing everything from guide communication and visitor management to cultural authenticity and environmental safeguards.
Jesus Enrique Cupul, Aviomar’s Sustainability Coordinator, commented:
This achievement marks an important milestone for Mexico’s tourism sector, reflecting a broader shift toward independently verified sustainability performance across one of the world’s most visited destinations, at a time when major cruise companies are placing greater emphasis on GSTC-certified shorex providers.
The certification confirms Aviomar Adventours’ compliance with the GSTC Tour Operator Standard following a rigorous on-site audit evaluating sustainability policies and practices integrated into the company’s day-to-day operations, management systems, supplier relationships, and visitor experiences. UCSL reviewed a representative sample of excursions across archaeological, coastal, marine, biodiversity-focused, and community-based settings, assessing everything from guide communication and visitor management to cultural authenticity and environmental safeguards.
Jesus Enrique Cupul, Aviomar’s Sustainability Coordinator, commented:
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Becoming the first GSTC-certified tour operator in Mexico is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. This achievement represents years of teamwork, commitment, and a genuine passion for doing tourism responsibly. The certification process has been a valuable learning experience, helping us strengthen our practices and reinforce our commitment to sustainable tourism. UCSL’s rigorous and impartial audit also gave us confidence that our efforts are creating meaningful impact, and we look forward to continuing this journey and raising our standards even further.
What does sustainability look like in practice across a large-scale shore excursion provider? Below, we explore some of the approaches and best practices that contributed to Aviomar’s achievement.
For more than four decades, Aviomar Adventours has specialized in creating immersive shore excursion experiences for cruise passengers visiting Mexico and the Caribbean, connecting travelers with some of the region’s most extraordinary natural, historical, and cultural destinations. Headquartered in Cozumel, the company operates across the Yucatán Peninsula through an extensive operational network that includes a broad ecosystem of local suppliers and partners.
Aviomar’s unique portfolio spans 43 day-tour experiences delivered across environmentally and culturally sensitive destinations, from globally renowned archaeological sites such as Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Uxmal, and San Gervasio, to cenote ecosystems, coastal environments, biodiversity-rich natural areas, authentic gastronomy, artisan traditions, and community-based experiences. The company also promotes experiences that support cultural preservation and biodiversity awareness, including Melipona bee conservation initiatives, helping travelers engage more deeply with the living natural and cultural heritage of the destination.. To produce perfect books, these rules must be revived and applied." The front matter, or preliminaries, is the first section of a book and typically has the fewest pages. While all pages are counted, page numbers are generally not printed, whether the pages are blank or contain content.
For more than four decades, Aviomar Adventours has specialized in creating immersive shore excursion experiences for cruise passengers visiting Mexico and the Caribbean, connecting travelers with some of the region’s most extraordinary natural, historical, and cultural destinations. Headquartered in Cozumel, the company operates across the Yucatán Peninsula through an extensive operational network that includes a broad ecosystem of local suppliers and partners.
Aviomar’s unique portfolio spans 43 day-tour experiences delivered across environmentally and culturally sensitive destinations, from globally renowned archaeological sites such as Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Uxmal, and San Gervasio, to cenote ecosystems, coastal environments, biodiversity-rich natural areas, authentic gastronomy, artisan traditions, and community-based experiences. The company also promotes experiences that support cultural preservation and biodiversity awareness, including Melipona bee conservation initiatives, helping travelers engage more deeply with the living natural and cultural heritage of the destination.. To produce perfect books, these rules must be revived and applied." The front matter, or preliminaries, is the first section of a book and typically has the fewest pages. While all pages are counted, page numbers are generally not printed, whether the pages are blank or contain content.
At the heart of Aviomar’s approach is the belief that sustainability should shape how tourism is delivered every day. Supporting this philosophy is a Sustainability Management System tailored to the scale of its operations, helping integrate environmental, cultural, social, health, safety, and operational priorities into the way experiences are designed and delivered.
Environmental stewardship is tangible across Aviomar’s operations. From reducing waste and single-use plastics to encouraging responsible purchasing and biodiversity protection, the company has introduced practices designed to minimize environmental impact while supporting more responsible visitor experiences. Employees regularly participate in beach and public space cleanups, environmental awareness activities, and sustainability-focused initiatives, helping reinforce a culture of responsibility across the organization.
In 2025 alone, Aviomar reported the collection and recycling of 2,902 kilograms of plastic, recycling of more than 4,326 kilograms of solid waste, and the prevention of approximately 3,618 kilograms of CO₂ emissions through recycling efforts.
Operating across environmentally and culturally sensitive destinations requires a particularly thoughtful approach. Across archaeological sites, cenote ecosystems, coastal environments, and biodiversity-rich areas, Aviomar emphasizes responsible visitor behavior, guide-led sustainability messaging, compliance with site-specific rules, and close collaboration with local custodians and partners to help minimize environmental and cultural impact.
Community benefit and cultural authenticity are also deeply embedded throughout Aviomar’s experiences. Through collaboration with local guides, artisans, suppliers, and community-based initiatives, the company helps ensure tourism spending supports local livelihoods while preserving cultural identity and traditional knowledge. Guides are trained and certified in line with Mexican tourism requirements, helping ensure both visitor safety and respectful, high-quality destination interpretation.
These commitments are supported by a philosophy of continuous improvement, with sustainability performance regularly reviewed and strengthened through monitoring, staff engagement, supplier collaboration, and internal accountability systems. It reflects an approach where sustainability is treated as an ongoing process embedded across operations, partnerships, and visitor experiences.
Environmental stewardship is tangible across Aviomar’s operations. From reducing waste and single-use plastics to encouraging responsible purchasing and biodiversity protection, the company has introduced practices designed to minimize environmental impact while supporting more responsible visitor experiences. Employees regularly participate in beach and public space cleanups, environmental awareness activities, and sustainability-focused initiatives, helping reinforce a culture of responsibility across the organization.
In 2025 alone, Aviomar reported the collection and recycling of 2,902 kilograms of plastic, recycling of more than 4,326 kilograms of solid waste, and the prevention of approximately 3,618 kilograms of CO₂ emissions through recycling efforts.
Operating across environmentally and culturally sensitive destinations requires a particularly thoughtful approach. Across archaeological sites, cenote ecosystems, coastal environments, and biodiversity-rich areas, Aviomar emphasizes responsible visitor behavior, guide-led sustainability messaging, compliance with site-specific rules, and close collaboration with local custodians and partners to help minimize environmental and cultural impact.
Community benefit and cultural authenticity are also deeply embedded throughout Aviomar’s experiences. Through collaboration with local guides, artisans, suppliers, and community-based initiatives, the company helps ensure tourism spending supports local livelihoods while preserving cultural identity and traditional knowledge. Guides are trained and certified in line with Mexican tourism requirements, helping ensure both visitor safety and respectful, high-quality destination interpretation.
These commitments are supported by a philosophy of continuous improvement, with sustainability performance regularly reviewed and strengthened through monitoring, staff engagement, supplier collaboration, and internal accountability systems. It reflects an approach where sustainability is treated as an ongoing process embedded across operations, partnerships, and visitor experiences.
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Congratulations to the Aviomar Adventours team on this important achievement. Becoming the first GSTC-certified tour operator in Mexico is a significant milestone, not only for the company, but for the country’s tourism industry. Aviomar offers a strong example of how sustainability can be embedded across large-scale tourism operations while protecting the natural and cultural heritage that makes destinations worth visiting in the first place.
As sustainability expectations continue to evolve across tourism, the conversation is increasingly shifting from commitments alone to how those commitments are implemented, measured, and independently verified in practice. In this context, GSTC Certification provides an important layer of assurance that sustainability is embedded into day-to-day operations rather than treated as a standalone initiative. For travelers, partners, and cruise operators alike, Aviomar Adventours’ achievement offers confidence that its sustainability efforts are supported by structured systems, operational accountability, and credible third-party assessment.
About Aviomar Adventours
Founded in 1969, Aviomar Adventours is one of Mexico’s leading shore excursion providers, specializing in immersive experiences for cruise passengers visiting Mexico and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Cozumel and operating across key destinations including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Playa del Carmen, and Progreso, the company offers a diverse portfolio of archaeological, cultural, nature, and adventure experiences designed to showcase the richness of Mexico’s natural and cultural heritage. Working with major international cruise operators and guided by values centered on quality, environmental responsibility, and cultural pride, Aviomar combines decades of operational expertise with a long-standing commitment to delivering meaningful visitor experiences that positively contribute to destinations and local communities.
About UCSL
United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL) is a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body headquartered in Cyprus, providing internationally acknowledged sustainability certification services for hotels and tour operators worldwide. With a team of experienced auditors and regional representatives across multiple continents, UCSL ensures rigorous, impartial, and credible evaluation of sustainability practices against the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Industry Standards – the world’s leading standard for sustainable travel and tourism.
Driven by a deep passion for sustainability, UCSL goes beyond auditing by actively contributing to capacity-building, awareness, and collaboration across the industry, supporting businesses in embedding sustainability as a driver of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term positive impact on people and the planet.
About GSTC Certification
GSTC Certification is the globally acknowledged mark of sustainable tourism, awarded to hotels, tour operators, and other businesses that meet the GSTC Standards – the world’s leading criteria for responsible travel. It confirms that a business has undergone a rigorous and impartial assessment by a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international non-profit organization established through a strategic coalition including the United Nations Foundation, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Tourism.
Holding GSTC Certification demonstrates a business’s genuine commitment to sustainability through a process that is credible, transparent, and globally consistent. The term "GSTC Certification" specifically means certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited, ensuring full alignment with the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.
About Aviomar Adventours
Founded in 1969, Aviomar Adventours is one of Mexico’s leading shore excursion providers, specializing in immersive experiences for cruise passengers visiting Mexico and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Cozumel and operating across key destinations including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Playa del Carmen, and Progreso, the company offers a diverse portfolio of archaeological, cultural, nature, and adventure experiences designed to showcase the richness of Mexico’s natural and cultural heritage. Working with major international cruise operators and guided by values centered on quality, environmental responsibility, and cultural pride, Aviomar combines decades of operational expertise with a long-standing commitment to delivering meaningful visitor experiences that positively contribute to destinations and local communities.
About UCSL
United Certification Systems Limited (UCSL) is a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body headquartered in Cyprus, providing internationally acknowledged sustainability certification services for hotels and tour operators worldwide. With a team of experienced auditors and regional representatives across multiple continents, UCSL ensures rigorous, impartial, and credible evaluation of sustainability practices against the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Industry Standards – the world’s leading standard for sustainable travel and tourism.
Driven by a deep passion for sustainability, UCSL goes beyond auditing by actively contributing to capacity-building, awareness, and collaboration across the industry, supporting businesses in embedding sustainability as a driver of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term positive impact on people and the planet.
About GSTC Certification
GSTC Certification is the globally acknowledged mark of sustainable tourism, awarded to hotels, tour operators, and other businesses that meet the GSTC Standards – the world’s leading criteria for responsible travel. It confirms that a business has undergone a rigorous and impartial assessment by a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international non-profit organization established through a strategic coalition including the United Nations Foundation, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Tourism.
Holding GSTC Certification demonstrates a business’s genuine commitment to sustainability through a process that is credible, transparent, and globally consistent. The term "GSTC Certification" specifically means certified by a Certification Body that is GSTC-Accredited, ensuring full alignment with the world’s highest standards for sustainable tourism.
June 9, 2026