Singapore has emerged as the top Asia Pacific travel destination, seventh globally, bridging thousands of tourists to the country annually.
As one of the many countries committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recently unveiled two initiatives focused specifically on tourism. These two initiatives are part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and include the development of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Attraction Criteria and MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook.
“These initiatives are pivotal in positioning Singapore as a leading sustainable urban destination and demonstrating our commitment to sustainability,” commented STB’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Ms Ong Huey Hong. “By developing world-class standards and providing the industry with practical tools, we are not only enhancing our own tourism sector but also contributing to global sustainability efforts in tourism,” she noted in closing.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Attraction Criteria
GSTC Attraction Criteria is the world’s first set of standards designed specifically for attractions. The criteria are used for education, awareness-raising, policy-making, and serves as the basis of certification. The criteria is based on the insight gathered from professionals and practitioners in the attractions industry, and members of the public. This year, GSTC will be onboarding accreditation of certification bodies and is planning to open the certification applications in 2026.
The vendors are encouraged to take advantage of the STB Legacy Toolkit to assist them in hosting more sustainable and eco-friendly events across the country.
MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook
The national MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline exercise launched in 2023 and sets regulations for the venue’s use of energy, water, and waste. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, “The baseline provides a consistent set of emissions data that can be monitored annually, allowing STB and the industry to better study and improve waste and carbon emissions management”.
MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook is the outcome of these sustainability initiatives. The Playbook is meant to help venues reduce their carbon emissions by offering practical recommendations, a decarbonisation framework, best practices from purpose-built venues in order to drive decarbonisation across Singapore’s venues.
Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification Framework is GSTC-Recognized as a standard and was launched early this year.
View the complete MICE sustainability roadmap.
The new regulations have a direct impact on how visitors experience the country. For example, the hotels are mandated to track and reduce emissions aiming for a net zero by 2050. The combination of efforts adds to Singapore’s holistic approach to becoming a leading sustainable urban destination.
