Singapore Tourism Board launches new initiatives to accelerate industry’s sustainability journey

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled the world’s first global sustainability standard designed for attractions as well as a comprehensive sustainability guide for business event venues, a move coinciding with the city-state’s hosting of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Global Sustainable Tourism Conference this week.

Developed with support from STB, the GSTC Attraction Criteria aims to serve as the global sustainability standard for attractions and provides a common understanding of sustainable practices for attractions worldwide. This is the first-ever global standard specifically designed for attractions. Attractions can expect to apply for the certification in early 2026, after the onboarding and GSTC accreditation of certification bodies in 2025.

As part of the development of the GSTC Attraction Criteria, STB, the Association of Singapore Attractions, and other international organisations joined the GSTC’s Attraction Criteria Advisory Group. The group provided feedback and consultation during the development of the criteria. Additionally, professionals and practitioners in the attractions industry, as well as members of the public, were involved in shaping these criteria during the development process.

GSTC’s CEO, Randy Durband, said: “Today marks a significant step forward as we introduce the GSTC Attraction Criteria, the culmination of 14 months of collaboration and dedication. We deeply appreciate the contributions of STB, who has made this possible. Together, let’s embrace this opportunity to lead the attractions sector towards a more sustainable path.”

Additionally, the new MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook is the latest development in Singapore’s move towards responsible business events. Content was built on data and learnings obtained from the 2023 national MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline exercise, which studied energy, water and waste generated by Singapore’s six purpose-built MICE venues.

The MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook aims to help event venues manage their carbon emissions, and offers practical recommendations for energy efficiency, waste management, and water conservation efforts.

STB’s chief sustainability officer, Ong Huey Hong, said: “These initiatives are pivotal in positioning Singapore as a leading sustainable urban destination and demonstrating our commitment to sustainability. 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.”

STB has chosen to reinforce its commitment to supporting the reduction of carbon emissions at business events by encouraging GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conference delegates to offset their carbon footprint from air travel by purchasing quality carbon credits through a credible offset project. Delegates who do so will receive a pre-loaded value souvenir card, which can be used for public transportation in Singapore. The initiative aims to create awareness of the carbon emissions impact of air travel and encourage delegates to take ownership of their own emissions, thereby fostering a greener, more sustainable delegate journey from start to end.