Singapore Tourism Board pushes ahead with 2050 net-zero target, updates STB's deputy chief executive Yap Chin Siang. Photo Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore aims to go big on experience but small on carbon impact for
MICE groups and business events as the industry’s recovery picks up
pace.
Becoming a sustainable urban destination has become a topmost goal
for Singapore amid its push towards the 2050 net-zero target, with
sustainability now taking a front-row seat in Singapore Tourism Board’s
(STB) renewed focus to attract international MICE groups and business
events in the post-pandemic environment.
“We
have an ambition to be a sustainable urban destination, a city in
nature, where large experiences come with small footprints this year,”
said STB’s deputy chief executive Yap Chin Siang, speaking during IMEX
2022 in Frankfurt.
Besides joining as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
(GSTC) member last year, STB has set targets to become a GSTC-certified
sustainable destination and participate in the Global Destination
Sustainability Index to “benchmark our social and environmental
performances to other MICE destinations”, Yap added.
For international MICE groups, STB has also developed enhanced
assistance and incentive schemes with its industry partners to ride on
the positive momentum of events comeback.
“We are here [at IMEX] to really tell the world one key message that
Singapore is back in business in a safe and sustainable manner, and we
have got incentives and support schemes to make events attractively
possible,” said Edward Koh, STB’s executive director, conventions,
meetings and incentive director.
A wider and more diverse array of curated experiences, from dining
and attractions to thematic tours and team building, awaits qualified
MICE groups under STB’s In Singapore incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE
Global 2.0) programme.
Under the enhanced programme, there are now close to 80 complementary
experiences that delegates can enjoy in Singapore – an increase from 54
experiences that were introduced under INSPIRE Global 1.0.
New INSPIRE Global 2.0 partners include Sentosa’s latest perfumery
attraction, Scentopia; 1- Group, a lifestyle group offering a range of
dining experiences; and Urban Yogis, a yoga wellness centre providing
wellness team building experiences. A new retail category has also been
added to offer exclusive shopping sprees at Design Orchard, as well as
back-of-house shopping tours with meet-and-greet sessions with
designers.
Meanwhile, the Business Events in Singapore (BEIS) scheme remains in
place to provide financial incentives for qualified events, while the
Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP) 3.0 provides exclusive
privileges with a stronger sustainable bent to delegates through key
tourism partners including Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport Group,
JetQuay, Sentosa Development Corporation, StarHub, Grab and NETS.
At IMEX 2022, STB and American Express Global Business Travel jointly
released a new white paper – Ready, get set, go green! – to look at key
trends in green meetings and events to assist travel and meeting
professionals to plan sustainable business events.