The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced two major initiatives as part of its ambitious commitment to sustainable tourism, further aligning with the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
Launched at the GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, the new GSTC Attraction Criteria and MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook are expected to elevate Singapore’s role as a leading sustainable urban destination. The initiatives support sustainability across both the tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) sectors.
Pioneering Global Standards for Sustainable Attractions
One of STB’s new initiatives, the GSTC Attraction Criteria, introduces the first-ever global standard for sustainability in attractions. Developed with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, these criteria set a worldwide benchmark for sustainable practices within attractions. This addition to the GSTC’s established criteria for hotels, tour operators, and destinations provides a unified framework that attractions can use to improve their environmental and social impact.
Certification based on the GSTC Attraction Criteria will open in early 2026, following the accreditation of certification bodies next year. Key players such as the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) and other international organisations played a vital role in shaping the standards, ensuring they reflect global insights and industry needs. STB Chief Sustainability Officer Ms Ong Huey Hong highlighted the initiative’s potential, saying, “These initiatives are pivotal in positioning Singapore as a leading sustainable urban destination and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability.”
MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook: A Guide for Green Practices
To support sustainable practices within Singapore’s MICE industry, STB has introduced the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, a comprehensive guide that provides practical solutions for reducing carbon emissions in MICE venues. This playbook stems from a national MICE industry carbon and waste baseline study, one of the first of its kind, which calculated emissions for six major MICE venues in Singapore. Key findings revealed that energy consumption accounts for 94% of venue-related emissions, with an average of 14.13 kg of CO₂ emitted per attendee.
The MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook incorporates a decarbonisation framework, international best practices, and government-supported schemes to guide venues on waste management, energy efficiency, and water conservation. This practical approach aims to set a global example for reducing environmental impact in the MICE sector.
Incentivising Low-Carbon Events and Sustainable Delegations
STB is actively encouraging sustainable practices among event planners and attendees. In May, it introduced the Legacy Toolkit to help organisers understand and implement sustainable practices at events. At the GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Singapore, STB piloted a new incentive program where delegates were encouraged to offset their carbon emissions from air travel by purchasing carbon credits. In exchange, they received a souvenir card pre-loaded with value for public transport use, promoting both environmental responsibility and local engagement.
Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification Framework Receives Global Recognition
In another significant step, the Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification (MSC) Framework, developed by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), has become the first GSTC-recognised MICE standard. This recognition aligns Singapore’s standards for MICE venues and event organisers with the GSTC’s international criteria, reinforcing Singapore’s leadership in sustainable practices within the MICE sector.
SACEOS President Richard Ireland expressed pride in the achievement, noting that this recognition ensures Singapore’s MICE standards meet high global benchmarks and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability.
Singapore’s Growing Status in Sustainable Tourism
STB’s sustainability initiatives are part of its ongoing efforts to align with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and contribute to the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. As of November 2024, Singapore ranks as the top Asia Pacific destination and seventh globally in the Global Destination Sustainability Index, thanks to coordinated efforts across the tourism and hospitality sectors. The recently launched MICE and Hotel Sustainability Roadmaps are helping to drive these goals, with aims for certification across 80% of MICE venues and 60% of hotel rooms by 2025.
These latest efforts underscore Singapore’s holistic approach to sustainability, further establishing it as a model for other urban destinations committed to balancing growth with environmental stewardship.
