CST Verification Officers

The Technical Verification Commission is a collegiate body attached to and based at the Costa Rican Tourism Board, which provides the financial, technical, and human resources necessary for the proper fulfillment of its functions.

Commission Members

The Technical Verification Commission is composed of professionals from various institutions linked to sustainable development and tourism activities. Below is the list of members responsible for analyzing, verifying, and recommending the results of the CST evaluation process, ensuring transparency and technical rigor. They serve on an honorary basis for a two-year term starting from their swearing-in by the Costa Rican Tourism Board. Their appointment may be extended for an additional term.

ict

Costa Rican Tourism Board

  • Gustavo Alvarado Chaves
  • Jackeline López Cordero
  • Mariana Garita Fournier - Technical Secretariat
minae

Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE)

  • Shirley Ramírez Carvajal
  • Stephanie Mori Villaseñor
ministerio de cultura

Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ)

  • Efrén Hernández Bonilla
  • Mónica Salazar Herrera
canaeco

National Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (CANAECO)

  • Hans Pfister
canatur

National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR)

  • Silvia Carboni Aguiluz
ucr

University of Costa Rica (UCR)

  • Emily Vargas Soto
incae

Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE)

  • Ronald Arce Pérez
inbio costa rica

National Biodiversity Institute (INBIO)

  • Randall García Víquez
uicn

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

  • Alberto Salas Ávila

Functions of the Commission

The functions of the CST Technical Verification Commission (CTV-CST) are as follows:

Grant CST certification to tourism organizations and institutions.
Decide on the suspension or revocation of CST certification for certified tourism organizations and institutions.
Propose to the ICT Board of Directors the execution of agreements with legally established national and international organizations in areas related to CST.
Ensure the proper application of the CST granting procedure.
Advise and promote the development of technical and strategic improvements to strengthen and optimize CST, ensuring alignment with best national and international practices in sustainable tourism.
Formally deny CST applications that do not meet the minimum qualification level.

Commission Meetings

The CTV-CST meets regularly at least once a month and extraordinarily when necessary. A quorum requires the attendance of four members.
Decisions are made by an absolute majority of attending members and become final in the following session, as stipulated by the General Law of Public Administration, unless two-thirds of the Commission members vote to confirm them immediately.
In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote.
Any matters not specified shall be governed by the provisions regulating Collegiate Bodies contained in the General Law of Public Administration, Law No. 6227 of May 2, 1978, Title Two, Chapter Three.

For more information, please refer to the new CST Standard.

Download the document here