SINGAPORE: While Singapore will face challenges as it tries to become a sustainable tourism destination, industry players and experts are confident that it can meet such a target.
"To prepare ourselves for these opportunities, we are transforming Sentosa into a carbon-neutral destination by 2030. Through such efforts, we will strengthen Singapore as 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's not something new … Sustainability has become more and more important, people are recognising the need to be responsible.
Noting that achieving sustainable tourism is a “continuous process”, tourism expert Shirley Tee said that such a destination should also include “curated meaningful experiences” that allow a tourist to understand and be aware about sustainability issues within the community, as well as incorporate activities that promote the destination country’s economy
“As more travelers are aware of the importance of sustainability, they will look out for products that are eco-friendly and purchase from businesses that embrace sustainability. Singapore as a destination cannot ignore sustainability and it makes business sense to embrace it,” said Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior lecturer in tourism Michael Chiam.
Last month, Sentosa Development Corporation 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. Ways in which hotels 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, as well as a paperless check-in and check-out process, she said.
“Different countries have got different accreditation schemes … These accreditation schemes are usually very specific to regions or destinations,” he said. 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 proposition comes from “the intangibles”, he said.
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