Awesome news for Singapore. The country has been certified as a sustainable destination based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)’s Destination Criteria.
The first to apply for the certification process on a country level, reflecting Singapore’s efforts and commitment to becoming a sustainable urban destination.
Singapore's sustainability certification is based on its work in four key areas—sustainable management, socioeconomic sustainability, cultural sustainability, and environmental sustainability—Singapore was awarded certification according to the GSTC Criteria, the worldwide benchmarks for responsible tourism.
The achievement reflects the commitment to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, as well as the Tourism Sustainability Strategy of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Singapore's goal is to become a sustainable urban destination, and the Tourism Sustainability Plan, which was released in 2022, lays out a plan to get there.
After significant tourist partners in Singapore, including Sentosa Development Corporation, Resorts World Sentosa, and Marina Bay Sands Singapore, acquired accreditation based on the applicable GSTC Criteria, the city-state was able to do the same.
Mr Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: “We are proud to receive this certification, which reflects Singapore’s commitment to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and becoming a City in Nature, where large experiences come with a small footprint. Being certified is just the beginning of our journey. Tourism businesses must do more to internalise sustainability as part of their offerings, so that they can contribute to making Singapore greener and more liveable. Our vision is to become one of the world’s most sustainable urban destinations and we now know we are on the right track.”
Sustainable Management
Singapore is putting its sustainable management strategies and action plans, such as the Singapore Green Plan 2030, into effect over the course of several years.
Singapore's Green Plan, which was announced in 2021, lays out the country's goals and objectives for the next decade and puts it on track to reach nett zero emissions by 2050, furthering its commitments under the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
Socio-economic Sustainability
There was also evidence that Singapore was working to increase the social and economic benefits of tourism for locals.
Some examples are promoting and facilitating the success of local entrepreneurs, making the workplace safe and secure, creating a welcoming built environment, and facilitating the development of skilled workers in the tourism industry.
Cultural Sustainability
Singapore's tangible and intangible heritage is being protected and enhanced through a number of different programmes. More than 7,200 buildings, entire historical districts, and national monuments are protected by law and conservation guidelines.
In 2015, UNESCO added the Singapore Botanic Gardens to the World Heritage List, making it the first and only tropical botanic park in Asia to receive this honour.
Also, on December 16, 2020, Singapore's hawker culture became the first part of the country to be inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Annual light-ups and festivities in cultural precincts are only two examples of the kinds of visitor experiences STB helps fund to honour Singapore's rich cultural history. Such examples include the Hari Raya Light-Up in Little India and the Deepavali festival in Chinatown.
Environmental Sustainability
To preserve its biodiversity, increase its greenery, and improve ecological linkages across green spaces, Singapore has employed a wide variety of interventions.
For instance, the goal of the OneMillionTrees project, which was started in 2020, is to have one million more trees planted in Singapore with the cooperation of the community by 2030.
As part of its efforts to manage its limited resources, the country is also drawing up detailed plans and displaying practical examples of sustainability in action.
In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Singapore has pledged to attain nett zero emissions by the year 2050. It has pledged to make 80 percent of its buildings (based on GFA) environmentally friendly by 2030, and so far it has made this commitment for more than half of its buildings.