Sentosa, Singapore Welcomes Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, November 2024

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The GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference is set to take place from November 13th to 16th, 2024, in Sentosa, Singapore, aiming to unite international and regional leaders in tourism to foster sustainability within the industry. The event will unfold at the Equarius Hotel, renowned for its adherence to the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels, within the globally recognized sustainable destination of Resorts World Sentosa.

This venue is part of the first destination globally to be certified under both the GSTC Destination Criteria and GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels in 2021. Moreover, the broader regions of Sentosa and Singapore have received accolades as sustainable destinations, underscoring the conference’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Spanning a diverse array of sectors—from governmental bodies and hospitality to academia and non-governmental organizations—the GSTC2024 in Singapore will delve into pivotal themes such as Sustainable Urban Tourism, Hospitality Sustainability, Comprehensive Sustainability Integration, and the Preservation of Cultural, Heritage, and Community Assets.

The conference is designed to empower attendees with actionable strategies and insights for deepening sustainability practices. Featuring influential speakers and a series of collaborative forums, the event aims to catalyze significant, positive changes within communities and environments.

In addition to engaging discussions and educational sessions, the conference will offer immersive pre- and post-conference activities, including specialized tours of Sentosa. These tours are crafted to showcase the island’s cutting-edge sustainable tourism efforts, from exclusive insights into Resorts World Sentosa’s operations to exploring the ecological and cultural preservation on the Southern Islands. These experiences will not only enhance the attendees’ understanding of sustainable practices but also illustrate the delicate balance between tourism development and environmental preservation.

Ms Ong Huey Hong, Chief Sustainability Officer, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Hosting the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference highlights Singapore’s appeal as a Global-Asia node for quality events and underscores our commitment to sustainable tourism. Guided by the Singapore Green Plan, our sustainable tourism strategy aims to build a City in Nature, where large experiences come with small footprints. We are committed to supporting the tourism industry in their sustainability journey, including pushing boundaries in innovation by leveraging technology, and enhancing the green skills of our workforce such as in Certification and Reporting and Carbon Management. This conference will serve as a crucial platform for global leaders to convene, exchange insights, and collaboratively forge new partnerships in sustainable tourism, inspiring meaningful impact worldwide.”

Mr Lee Cheh Hsien, Assistant Chief Executive, Corporate and Sustainability, Sentosa Development Corporation said, “Being the first destination in Asia to be certified to GSTC’s destination standards, we are honoured to host GSTC’s first global conference in Southeast Asia and look forward to the learnings and exchanges amongst global experts and participants. We welcome them to immerse themselves in Sentosa’s lush nature and heritage sites and experience first-hand the sustainability initiatives championed by the businesses across our island ecosystem.”

Ms Lee Shi Ruh, President, Resorts World Sentosa, said: “Being the first destination in the world certified to both the GSTC Destination Criteria and GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels in 2021, Resorts World Sentosa is honored to play a pivotal role in hosting the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference at Equarius Hotel this November. We are excited to support the conference’s mission to promote sustainable travel and tourism, as we work together with our stakeholders and the local community to build a sustainable future for Sentosa. At RWS, we are making significant progress toward becoming a carbon-neutral destination by 2030, focusing on decarbonization, sustainable infrastructure, and green job creation. As part of the conference, we are pleased to introduce a guided tour that takes delegates behind the scenes of our lush integrated resort, highlighting innovations such as our district cooling plant and cloud-based Building Management System and their impact on advancing our vision of RWS being a sustainable tourism destination.”