Challenges and opportunities as Singapore targets becoming a sustainable tourism destination
SINGAPORE: While Singapore will face up challenges as it tries to get a sustainable tourism destination, manufacture players and experts are confident that it tin meet such a target.
Speaking to CNA, Mr Christopher Khoo, the managing director for international tourism consultancy Masterconsult Services, said the motion would be the "responsible" matter to do.
"I applaud Singapore'south determination to embrace this whole concept of sustainability in tourism, because that's I recall not just the right way to go, information technology is the responsible matter to do," he said.
The move is one of the 2030 targets under the green economy - one of the five fundamental pillars in the Singapore Green Plan unveiled earlier this twelvemonth.
"X years from now, nosotros also await that global tourism will have sprung back into a more vibrant sector. Tourists volition have a greater interest in sustainable travel options, for example, eco-friendly hotels and attractions," said Government minister for Merchandise and Industry Chan Chun Sing in his oral communication in Parliament during the Articulation Segment on Sustainability last calendar month.
"To prepare ourselves for these opportunities, we are transforming Sentosa into a carbon-neutral destination by 2030. Through such efforts, we will strengthen Singapore every bit an exemplary sustainable tourism destination," he said.
Said Mr Khoo: "On the whole, sustainable tourism is something that is becoming increasingly important. In tourism, it'south not something new … Sustainability has go more and more than important, people are recognising the need to be responsible."
According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), at that place were also nineteen.1 1000000 visitors to Singapore in 2019, with these visitors spending a total of S$27.1 billion in tourism receipts.
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Equally defined past the Globe Tourism Organization (UNTWO), sustainable tourism should incorporate three primary objectives.
These include making "optimal apply" of environmental resource as well every bit helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. In addition, this class of tourism should also respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, said UNTWO on its website.
It likewise needs to ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economical benefits to all stakeholders that are "fairly distributed".
Noting that achieving sustainable tourism is a "continuous procedure", tourism good Shirley Tee said that such a destination should too include "curated meaningful experiences" that allow a tourist to understand and be aware of sustainability problems within the community, as well as incorporate activities that promote the destination country's economic system
"Efforts to protect and preserve our economical real estate can also be tied in with our journey towards beingness a sustainable tourism destination. For case, ensuring that built-upwards areas with older buildings and our unique heritage be retained and not discarded due to economic force per unit area will help us preserve the social and urban fabric of the nation," added Ms Tee, who is a senior manager at Nanyang Polytechnic's (NYP) School of Business Management.
"This also creates additional sustainable tourism avenues for tourists to visit, and larn more than about."
MORE DISCERNING TRAVELLERS
Mr Khoo noted that travellers have now get "more than discerning" in their choice of service providers in the state they visit. 1 of the ways in which they exercise this is to wait for sustainably sourced products or products sourced locally.
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"As more travellers are aware of the importance of sustainability, they volition look out for products that are eco-friendly and purchase from businesses that cover sustainability. Singapore every bit a destination cannot ignore sustainability and information technology makes concern sense to embrace it," said Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior lecturer in tourism Michael Chiam.
"Many Singapore tourism-related businesses are already embracing the sustainable initiatives. What businesses tin practise is to dive deeper into adopting more than and more sustainable processes in their businesses."
Dr Kevin Cheong, who is chairman of the Association of Singapore Attractions, said local attractions can commencement with simple things, such as questioning whether brochures or tickets are necessary.
"At the same time not just the existing attractions but the new attractions coming on stream, they should start building their attractions in a conscious way, in that deliberate manner. Blueprint for sustainability," he added.
Final month, Sentosa Evolution Corporation (SDC) announced the resort island would be transformed into a carbon-neutral destination by 2030. This would be a "key goal" in its long-term sustainability plan, it said.
"It is possible for Sentosa to atomic number 82 the way in reducing its carbon emissions and trialling new solutions, given the unique island environment and SDC being a single precinct operator working hand in hand with the community on Sentosa," it said in a press release.
"SDC will identify and work with applied science partners to testbed sustainable technologies and concepts on Sentosa, while also bringing on board some 200 businesses within Sentosa to work towards the aspiration of island carbon neutrality."
Ms Kwee Wei-Lin, who is the president of the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), said that to "safeguard" the futurity of the hotel industry, sustainability is the key to long term success.
Ways in which hotels tin can and have chipped in to do their part include providing recycling bins in guest rooms, filtered water taps in guest rooms instead of plastic bottled water, every bit well as a paperless check-in and check-out procedure, she said.
"Greening the supply chain is too an important part of our journeying towards sustainable tourism," Ms Kwee said.
"Hotels can piece of work with vendors to use environmentally-friendly packaging materials, asking for suppliers to minimise packaging for their deliveries, provide eco-friendly products, which could range from office supplies to furniture and paints to cleaning products, every bit well every bit to source from sustainable food sources."
In addition, SHA has as well established the Hotel Sustainability Commission (HSC) which comprise both private and public sector representatives, who will "conceptualise solutions and strategies that bring together sustainability and commercial value", she added.
At the aforementioned time, Mr Khoo noted that Singapore would too demand to hold itself upwardly to a item set up of standards as it tries to achieve its goal.
"Different countries accept got different accreditation schemes … These accreditation schemes are commonly very specific to regions or destinations," he said.
While Singapore may non be "specific" enough for such a tailored scheme, these schemes are very important in the area of sustainability, he added.
"Because you lot cannot but say, I want to practice well, y'all should measure yourself against a standard."
"In that location is nonetheless a lack of sensation and wide adoption of sustainable practices. While at that place is a pattern, in that location is no articulate assimilation for the hospitality and tourism organisations on the dos and don'ts," said Ms Tee.
"What we need now is targeted initiatives to increase the understanding of sustainable practices and clear guidelines for execution."
At STB'south almanac industry conference final week, its main executive Keith Tan said that information technology would be approaching industry players over the coming months to share its thoughts on developing strategies and a roadmap for destination sustainability.
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"Ultimately, we don't just want to exist known as a sustainable destination, but equally a great location for companies to test bed sustainable tourism solutions," Mr Tan had said, citing examples such as a cyberspace zero-carbon hotel or amusement event.
A LOT OF 'PLUSES'
At the STB conference, Mr Chan said that Singapore's tourism sector will as well have to capture opportunities in the shift towards sustainability.
While Singapore might not be able to compete with other "eco-destinations" given its land scarcity and lack of natural landscapes, the country's value proffer comes from "the intangibles", he said.
"We want to be the best identify to test bed sustainable solutions, new products and new experiences, enabling businesses from around the world to launch first-to-market solutions and innovations, right here in Singapore," said Mr Chan.
Mr Khoo noted that Singapore has a number of "pluses" which information technology can use to its advantage, fifty-fifty though it is non typically seen every bit a nature destination.
"Being make clean and dark-green is a big reward. We've ever had that. And and then we've got the advantage of having 4 superb nature parks … We do have a very soft side, and that in the part is actually going to exist pushed a lilliputian bit more when the Mandai surface area is further developed," he added.
"So we've got a very balanced product in that sense, in terms of proverb that nosotros are likewise sustainable."
Dr Chiam noted that Singapore is not new to the area of sustainability.
"We have hosted many world-renowned sustainability events such as World Cities Top, Singapore International Water 24-hour interval and Singapore International Free energy Calendar week ... This makes Singapore a sustainable destination from the MICE perspective," he said.
"The claiming is how to interpret this knowledge to something hands adopted by local businesses. The Singapore Light-green Plan 2030 is a expert vehicle to bulldoze sensation among local businesses on the importance of embracing the sustainability motility."
Dr Chiam also noted that there are a number of "success stories" when information technology comes to sustainability amidst businesses in the tourism industry.
"These stories can act every bit a catalyst to inspire other businesses to bring together the sustainability movement," he added.
FACING Up TO COSTS
At the same time, associated costs could be an result as Singapore strives to reach this goal, said experts.
"I think cost or managing costs volition ever exist an issue, as Singapore looks to implement different standards, for example, it will but hateful that our businesses have to adhere to something that in the future volition become more than of import," said Mr Khoo.
He noted that given how the COVID-xix pandemic has brought travel to a halt, now would be an opportune time to implement some changes.
"Everybody'southward minds are very malleable, we're in a very plastic situation, you set the states in the right direction, it will stand the states in good stead x, 20 years from at present," he explained
NYP's Ms Tee noted that the Southward$68.5 one thousand thousand that the Authorities will pump into the Tourism Evolution Fund for businesses looking to test-bed sustainable tourism offerings is a "expert sign" that Singapore is moving in the correct management.
At the aforementioned time, Dr Cheong pointed out that allure operators would need assist from the Government even equally they seek to become more sustainable in the way they operate.
"(Cost) is where we hope the Regime tin can give united states of america a leg upwardly," he said.
"COVID-19 has striking united states deep in the core, our financial cadre. Many smaller attractions, SME (small- and medium-size enterprises) attractions may non have the fiscal appetite ... But I call up if nosotros do information technology collectively, in a unmarried-minded style, with government support, I think nosotros can make a difference."
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sustainable-tourism-singapore-challenges-sentosa-hotels-179556
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