The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recently unveiled two pioneering initiatives to bolster sustainable tourism and support the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
The first is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Attraction Criteria, the world’s first global standard specifically designed for attractions; while the second is the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, a comprehensive guide to enhancing green practices in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
These were announced by minister of state for trade & industry, culture, community, and youth Alvin Tan at the recently concluded GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Conference on 14th November.
This was the first time Singapore is hosting the event, which is a platform for organisations and individuals passionate about sustainable travel and tourism to exchange ideas, foster collaboration and forge partnerships.
According to STB chief sustainability officer Ong Huey Hong: “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."
What are the parameters of the GSTC Attraction Criteria?
The GSTC Criteria serves as the global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism, and is used for education and awareness-raising, policy making for businesses, organisations, and government agencies’ measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification.
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 (ASA) 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.
The GSTC Attraction Criteria is the latest set of Criteria following those developed for hotels and tour operators, destinations and MICE.
According to GSTC CEO Randy Durband said: "The GSTC Attraction Criteria, is 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."
The playbook as a guide to more sustainable MICE venues
In 2023, Singapore pioneered a national MICE Industry Carbon and Waste Baseline exercise, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so.
As venues are a vital part of the MICE ecosystem, the exercise was an aggregated baseline of sustainability data points from Singapore’s six purpose-built MICE venues, focusing on energy, water and waste.
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.
Key findings reveal that the average MICE venue-related carbon emissions per attendee stands at 14.13kg carbon dioxide, with energy consumption accounting for 94 percent of MICE venue-related emissions.
With the insights gained from this exercise, STB developed the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, which can help MICE venues manage their carbon emissions.
The Playbook is designed to offer practical recommendations for MICE venues to enhance their energy efficiency, waste management, and water conservation efforts, in line with advancing their sustainability ambitions.
The document features a decarbonisation framework, best practices from purpose-built MICE venues and international counterparts, and a consolidation of whole-of-government support schemes to drive decarbonisation across Singapore’s MICE venues.
