The Singapore Tourism Board introduces pioneering initiatives, including the GSTC Attraction Criteria and MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, to reinforce its commitment to sustainability.
Singapore, 14 November 2024 – The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched two groundbreaking initiatives to strengthen sustainable tourism practices and align with the Singapore Green Plan 2030. These are the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Attraction Criteria, the world’s first global sustainability standard for attractions, and the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, a comprehensive guide for green practices in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
The announcements were made by Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade & Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, at the GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, hosted in Singapore for the first time. This conference serves as a platform for collaboration among organisations and individuals passionate about sustainable travel and tourism.
Ms Ong Huey Hong, STB’s Chief Sustainability Officer, remarked: “These initiatives position Singapore as a leading sustainable urban destination and underline our commitment to global sustainability. By developing world-class standards and providing practical tools, we aim to elevate the tourism sector while contributing to international sustainability goals.”
GSTC Attraction Criteria
The GSTC Attraction Criteria is the first global sustainability standard designed specifically for attractions. Developed with support from STB, this initiative sets benchmarks for sustainable practices, providing a common framework for attractions worldwide. Certification will open in 2026 following the accreditation of certification bodies in 2025.
During its development, STB collaborated with the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) and international organisations, alongside input from industry practitioners and the public.
GSTC’s CEO, Mr Randy Durband, celebrated the milestone, saying: “This is a significant step towards sustainability in the attractions sector. We deeply appreciate STB’s contributions to this initiative.”
MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook
The MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook builds on the findings of Singapore’s 2023 MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline exercise, which measured emissions and waste across six major MICE venues. This playbook offers a decarbonisation framework and practical recommendations to improve energy efficiency, waste management, and water conservation in the MICE industry.
Advancing Sustainable Tourism Practices
To encourage environmentally-friendly events, STB piloted a carbon-offset incentive programme during the GSTC conference. Delegates offsetting their travel emissions were rewarded with pre-loaded value cards for public transportation in Singapore, highlighting sustainable travel practices.
Earlier this year, the Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification (MSC) Framework was launched, with its standards now GSTC-Recognized, making it the first MICE standard to achieve this recognition.
Singapore’s tourism sector has made significant progress toward sustainability. The nation ranks as the top Asia-Pacific destination and seventh globally in the Global Destination Sustainability Index 2024. Efforts continue toward achieving the targets set in the MICE and Hotel Sustainability Roadmaps, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Source: STB
