Sentosa, Singapore, Hosts GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference Driving Transformative Sustainable Urban Tourism, Innovative Hospitality, And Powerful Heritage Preservation

Published on November 28, 2024

GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa, Singapore focused on driving transformative urban tourism, sustainable hospitality, and heritage preservation.

From November 13th to 16th, 2024, the beautiful island of Sentosa, Singapore, played host to the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, attracting over 500 delegates from 55 countries. The conference, broadcast live to a global audience, was an essential gathering for tourism professionals committed to advancing sustainable practices in the industry. With a focus on four key themes—Driving Sustainable Urban Tourism, Sustainable Hospitality, Integrating Sustainability Across the Value Chain, and Preserving Culture, Heritage, and Communities—this event showcased the industry’s dedication to creating a positive impact on both the environment and local communities.

In this article, we will explore the highlights of the conference, including its sustainability-focused initiatives, key speakers, training programs, and the collaborative spirit that made the event a pivotal moment for sustainable tourism worldwide.

The Core Themes of GSTC2024

The conference’s agenda was carefully designed to address pressing issues facing the tourism industry, providing participants with practical tools, case studies, and thought leadership to incorporate sustainability into their businesses. Let’s take a closer look at each of the four key themes of the conference:

1. Driving Sustainable Urban Tourism
   With the growth of urban tourism, there is an increasing need to manage its impact on both the environment and local communities. This theme explored ways to develop cities as sustainable destinations, focusing on urban planning, responsible tourism management, and eco-friendly infrastructure that benefits both tourists and residents. The session inspired attendees to consider how cities can be transformed into more sustainable spaces while preserving their cultural identity.
2. Sustainable Hospitality
   This theme delved into sustainable practices within the hospitality sector, covering everything from energy-efficient hotel operations to reducing waste and promoting sustainable sourcing. Leading experts shared their knowledge of how hotels, resorts, and other hospitality providers can adopt the GSTC Industry Criteria, ensuring that sustainability becomes embedded in the day-to-day operations of tourism businesses.
3. Integrating Sustainability Across the Value Chain
   Sustainability is not just about managing tourism operations—it’s about creating a seamless, sustainable value chain that spans all facets of the tourism industry. This session highlighted the importance of integrating sustainable practices from the point of origin to the end user, whether it’s through eco-friendly tour operators, sustainable transportation options, or responsible food sourcing.
4. Preserving Culture, Heritage, and Communities
   The preservation of culture and heritage is a fundamental aspect of sustainable tourism. This theme examined how tourism can be a force for good in protecting local traditions, historical sites, and indigenous communities. The discussion encouraged delegates to adopt tourism models that not only contribute economically but also safeguard the social and cultural fabric of destinations.

Sustainable Practices at GSTC2024

As a key player in promoting sustainability, the GSTC2024 conference went beyond discussions and took actionable steps to minimize its environmental footprint. Some of the sustainable initiatives implemented throughout the event included:

1. Carbon Offset and Eco-friendly Travel
   The carbon footprint of the conference, including attendee travel, was calculated and offset by Green Evolution, a sustainability organization focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) incentivized delegates to individually offset their flights, offering a complimentary e-card for use in Singapore. This initiative not only supported the global push for responsible tourism but also gave attendees an opportunity to explore Singapore sustainably.
2. Reduction of Paper and Plastic Usage
   Paper and plastic waste were minimized by introducing innovative solutions. For instance, conference badges were made from recyclable TESLIN material, and eco-friendly, biodegradable bamboo lanyards replaced traditional plastic ones. These simple yet effective measures highlighted the conference’s commitment to reducing single-use plastic and paper waste.
3. Upcycling and Recycling
   The conference embraced the principles of the circular economy. Attendees were encouraged to recycle their badges and lanyards in designated boxes, where they were upcycled in collaboration with Cloop, a circular fashion enterprise. The event’s floral displays were also designed using plant clippings from the island’s maintenance work, ensuring that no cut flowers were procured or discarded, thus promoting a smaller carbon footprint and a responsible event cycle.
4. Sustainable Event Backdrops and Furniture
   The event utilized sustainable materials for its backdrop and furniture. For instance, honeycomb cardboard was used to create reusable registration desks, while the event’s backdrop was made with PVC-free banner prints. After the conference, all materials were sorted for recycling, further underscoring the event’s eco-friendly approach.
5. Digitization of Materials
   In an effort to reduce physical materials, much of the event’s registration process and signage were digitized. LED walls and digital signages replaced traditional foam boards and printed materials, ensuring the event minimized its paper consumption while maintaining an informative and engaging atmosphere.

Pre-conference Training Programs

In addition to the conference’s plenary sessions, delegates had the opportunity to engage in several pre-conference GSTC Training Programs, which provided hands-on learning and in-depth knowledge of sustainable tourism practices. The four key training programs included:

1. GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course for Industry Professionals
   This course focused on GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable tourism. Participants learned how to assess and improve their sustainability efforts using these criteria, gaining a deeper understanding of global sustainability benchmarks.
2. GSTC Accessible and Inclusive Travel Course
   With an increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), this course equipped attendees with knowledge and skills to tap into the growing accessible and inclusive travel market. It focused on best practices for creating accessible tourism experiences that cater to all travelers, including those with disabilities.
3. GSTC Auditor Training
   This training program provided a comprehensive overview of the audit process for sustainable tourism, focusing on the GSTC Industry Criteria and how to evaluate and certify tourism businesses for their sustainability practices.
4. GSTC F&B Criteria Consultation
   A focused session that explored sustainable food and beverage practices within the tourism industry, enabling participants to apply sustainable sourcing and waste reduction strategies in their own businesses.

The Conference Venue: Equarius Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa

The conference was held at the Equarius Hotel, located within the world-renowned Resorts World Sentosa. This resort is unique in its sustainability efforts, having been certified against both the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels and the GSTC Destination Criteria in 2021. Both Sentosa Island and Singapore itself have received recognition as sustainable destinations, further reinforcing the environmental integrity of the conference’s setting.

Key Stakeholders and Sponsors

The success of GSTC2024 would not have been possible without the support of key partners and stakeholders. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) played a pivotal role in facilitating the event’s location and promoting sustainable tourism initiatives across the region. Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and ONE15 Marina Sentosa Cove provided their venues, while Unearth Productions (UP) served as the event partner, ensuring the event was executed with sustainability at its core.

Gold Sponsors, including the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Tourism Fiji, and Visit Sweden, supported the event’s mission to foster sustainable tourism practices globally. Platinum Sponsor Traveloka also played an integral role in advancing the sustainable tourism agenda through its ongoing commitment to positive change in the industry.

The GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa, Singapore, was an inspiring event that brought together key stakeholders from around the world to exchange ideas, share best practices, and work collaboratively to create a more sustainable future for the tourism industry. Through its innovative practices, such as carbon offsetting, upcycling, and digitization, the event demonstrated how sustainability can be integrated into every facet of tourism.

As the global tourism industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices, the discussions, workshops, and initiatives from GSTC2024 will serve as a guiding light for future efforts. With the continued commitment of industry leaders, sustainability will remain at the forefront of the tourism sector’s evolution.