Mr Luigi Cabrini, Chairman, Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Mr Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer, Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Mr Bob Tan, Chairman, Sentosa Development Corporation
Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Chief Executive, Sentosa Development Corporation
Mr Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer, Resorts World Sentosa
Industry Partners, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
1. It is a huge privilege for Singapore to host the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference for the first time.
a. Each year, the conference gathers organisations and individuals passionate about sustainable travel and tourism.
b. It is a crucial platform to exchange ideas, foster partnerships, and inspire meaningful change to make tourism more sustainable globally.
c. My sincere thanks to Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC),Resorts World Sentosa, Far East Hospitality, ONE’15 Marina Sentosa Cove and colleagues from Singapore Tourism Board and Sentosa Development Corporation for organising this run.
d. Thanks to every one of you for attending, especially friends and colleagues who journeyed here from across the world.
2. 2024 has been a promising year for tourism in Singapore.
a. Our international visitor arrivals for January to October reached 13.9 million, a rise of 23.3% over the same period in 2023. Our tourism receipts for January to June recorded $14.88B, a 19.5% year-on-year increase.
b. Despite a volatile global environment and intense competition, we continue to expect a further boost to tourism. We are projecting up to 16.5 million international visitor arrivals and $29B in tourism receipts this year.
3. There is a growing trend in sustainable tourism and travel as travellers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of climate change and their carbon footprint.
a. A study published by World Travel and Tourism Council in 2023 suggested that tourism accounts for around 8 to 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions – a large percentage when we consider all possible sources of emissions.
i. Based on Booking.com’s 2024 Sustainable Travel Report, around 75% of leisure travellers affirmed the importance of travelling sustainably, and plan to travel more sustainably over the next year.
ii. In a 2023 report from Global Business Travel Association, 92% of business travel professionals cited sustainability as a priority for their company, and are looking to trim their environmental impact through sustainable business travel policies.
b. This presents opportunities for us to grow, develop and create products and services to help our industry operate more sustainably.
c. We also have the opportunity to support the local community, such as by greening existing jobs in the sector, and promoting local culture and heritage.
4. But what exactly does sustainable tourism mean? To our communities, to individuals and to our companies? Let’s explore three questions:
a. What is sustainable tourism?
b. How does a location become a more sustainable travel destination?
c. What does a sustainable traveller look like?
What is Sustainable Tourism?
5. Sustainable tourism can come across as a fairly broad topic and nebulous concept.
a. United Nations defines sustainable tourism as “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of the visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.
b. Many confuse it with other forms of tourism, such as:
i. ecotourism, which refers to a niche segment of tourism in natural areas, and
ii. responsible travel, which refers to choices and behaviour by individual travellers that minimise the negative impact they bring.
6. The introduction of the GSTC criteria aims to develop a common language for sustainable tourism and align that understanding globally, serving as one of the most widely accepted international standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.
7. Today, I’m pleased to announce the official launch of the GSTC Attraction Criteria, developed with support from our Singapore Tourism Board.
a. This is the latest set of criteria following those developed for hotels and tour operators, destinations, and most recently MICE.
b. It is the first-ever global standard specifically designed for attractions, and provides a common understanding of sustainable practices for attractions worldwide.
c. By supporting the development of world-class standards and providing industry with practical tools, we are enhancing the capability of our tourism sector and contributing to global sustainability efforts in tourism.
d. The GSTC Attraction Criteria have been published, and attractions can start the certification and auditing processes in early 2026.
How does one become a more Sustainable Travel Destination?
8. Global standards and certifications help encourage the adoption of and provide the assurance of sustainable practices.
a. In Singapore, we hope to demonstrate our commitment to decarbonising our tourism footprint with clear targets on our certification levels.
b. For MICE, we are targeting to obtain sustainability certification for all MICE purpose-built venues and 80% of Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisation & Suppliers (SACEOS) members by 2025.
i. We have made good progress thus far. 67% of our MICE venues and 20% of SACEOS members having already achieved sustainability certification.
ii. GSTC has now recognised our Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification Framework, making it the first MICE standard recognised by GSTC for aligning with the GSTC MICE Criteria.
c. For hotels, we aim to have 60% of our hotel room stock, including 100% of Sentosa’s hotels, obtain sustainability certification by 2025.
i. To-date, over 38% have already successfully achieved certification.
ii. For example, Resorts World Sentosa, where we are today, was the first in Singapore to achieve certification for all its hotels back in 2021. RWS holds the accolade of being the first in the world to achieve both the GSTC Destination and Industry Criteria for hotels.
d. To achieve our targets, we have been working closely with our stakeholders to decarbonise venues, and have completed carbon baselining exercises for our MICE purpose-built venues and hotels.
e. We extracted the learnings from last year’s baselining exercise for MICE venues, and developed a first-of-its kind MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, which we are launching today. The MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook will serve as a comprehensive guide to enhance green practices in the MICE industry.
f. I am also proud to share that Singapore was ranked 7th in the 2024 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), rising ten places from 17th last year. We are proud of our partners’ efforts along this meaningful journey.
9. Standards and certifications are important, but what’s even more important is to have actual offerings of sustainable travel experiences that appeal to travellers.
a. Many of you will have the chance to experience sustainable tourism here in Sentosa, the first island destination in Asia to be certified with the GSTC Destination Criteria.
i. The Sentosa Carbon Neutral Network has collaborated with GSTC to bring to you sustainable tours, attractions, hotels and meals. The conference’s menu has been carefully crafted to use RWS’ herb garden and local produce as much as possible.
b. If you have time to visit our Southern Islands, Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus, which is GSTC-Industry certified, also offers a fun, relaxing and sustainable getaway.
i. You can stay at eco-friendly “tiny houses” nestled within nature, with large, full-glass windows overlooking stunning sea views.
ii. These “tiny houses” use innovative and sustainable ideas to allow guests to lower their carbon footprint. Solar energy is the main source of power.
iii. There are also many amenities and leisure activities nearby, including stand-up paddleboarding, cycling, and nature walks, allowing you to experience the rustic charm of Singapore’s Southern Islands while minimising the impact to biodiversity and the environment.
iv. I visited these “tiny houses” last year. They are very popular, and it’s almost impossible to secure a booking! So please do book a stay soon if you haven’t!
What does a Sustainable Traveller Look Like?
10. I will next attempt to answer our final question: What does a sustainable traveler look like?
11. The individual choices we as travelers make, add up and make a huge difference to promoting sustainable tourism.
a. If we think a little more about the potential impact of our trips, and consider what small adjustments and shifts we can make, I believe that we can all make a big cumulative impact.
i. We could start with little things such as our daily needs ― for instance, choose to bring our own water bottles, instead of buying bottled water; or choose to bring our own toothbrushes, instead of using travel-friendly disposable ones.
ii. We could also buy quality carbon credits to offset the carbon footprint from our air travel. If you have not done so, please visit the Singapore Tourism Board’s carbon offset booth outside the plenary hall to do so. You will also receive a pre-loaded value souvenir card which can be used for public transportation during your stay here!
Conclusion
12. Everyone has a part to play to promote sustainable tourism – and part of why we’re here today is to exchange ideas or collaborate on how to better do so.
a. I believe we all have what it takes to (1) become sustainable travellers, (2) become a sustainable travel organisation or destination and (3) define the present and future of sustainable tourism.
b. And Singapore will always journey alongside you as your dependable travel partner for sustainable tourism, as we continue to pursue our vision to be "A City in Nature, where large experiences come with small footprints."
13. I wish everyone a fruitful and engaging conference ahead Thank you!