Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has been conferred the Global Sustainable Tourism Council – For Destinations (GSTC-D) certificate, joining 23 other certified sustainable destinations in the world, such as Vail, Colorado and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland.
This recognition affirms the organisation’s strong push for collective and collaborative whole-of-island efforts towards achieving a more sustainable Sentosa.
The Global Sustainability Study 20211 which surveyed more than 10,000 people across 17 countries, revealed that one third of global consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products, and sustainability was rated as an important purchase criterion for 60 percent of consumers. SDC is committed to invest, innovate and transform its tourism model for meaningful long-term sustainability through working closely with like-minded businesses on the island.
Thien Kwee Eng, CEO, SDC, said: “We are proud and heartened that Sentosa is the first island destination in Asia, together with RWS, to be certified as a sustainable tourism destination.
“This certification was made possible through the continued and collective efforts of SDC and the businesses on the island. As Sentosa transits towards tourism recovery, we will continue to work closely with both public and private sectors to meet the needs of travellers who have become more inclined towards sustainable offerings.”
During the process of the certification audit, SDC’s policies and initiatives as the island operator and developer was benchmarked against 38 criteria and 174 indicators across four categories: sustainable management, socio-economic sustainability, cultural sustainability and environmental sustainability.
GSTC’s CEO, Randy Durband said the certification attests to SDC’s active involvement and commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
Keith Tan, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, congratulated SDC on achieving this certification, which is “a boost to our vision of becoming a top sustainable urban destination and supports our tourism sustainability strategy”.
As a certified sustainable destination, Sentosa will continue to support the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to build a sustainable Singapore for future generations of Singaporeans and global visitors. SDC will build upon its close partnership and strong rapport with businesses on and outside the island, as well as public agencies, to launch more sustainability-focused initiatives and experiences.
