Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) publishes new MICE criteria

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has announced that the GSTC MICE Criteria have been published and are available to the public for non-commercial use.

Developed for venues, event organisers, and events & exhibitions, the GSTC MICE Criteria, produced with support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will guide businesses toward implementing sustainable practices in response to the growing focus on sustainability.

The GSTC Criteria serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.

The criteria are used for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses, organisations and government agencies, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification.

They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism and are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; (D) Environmental impacts.

The GSTC MICE Criteria are the third GSTC Criteria set, in addition to the GSTC Industry Criteria (for Hotels and Tour operators) and the GSTC Destination Criteria.

The GSTC Attraction Criteria are currently under development, a statement said.

GSTC MICE Criteria

The GSTC MICE Criteria aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) businesses and provide a common understanding of sustainable practices in the MICE industry worldwide.

With the steady growth of the MICE industry coupled with the escalating demand for sustainable tourism, it is imperative to establish universal guidelines that prescribe sustainable practices to be adhered to by the various subsectors within the MICE industry.

The criteria are the minimum that any MICE business should aspire to attain.

“After a year of dedicated work and effort, we announce the formal release of the GSTC MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. We thank the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), who has been a key contributor to its development. Let’s seize this opportunity together to significantly advance the MICE industry’s journey towards sustainability,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.

Yap Chin Siang, Deputy Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said: “Our collaboration with the GSTC and Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), to develop the GSTC MICE Criteria underscores Singapore’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and solidifies our position as a leading MICE destination.

The MICE Criteria represents a major milestone on this journey, empowering industry players with the relevant tools to contribute to and thrive in a sustainable tourism landscape. I strongly urge all stakeholders in the MICE ecosystem to embrace the criteria and play a pivotal role in forging a greener future for global tourism.”

The GSTC MICE Criteria will:
● Help define sustainability in a holistic manner
● Raise awareness of the breadth and nature of sustainability
● Serve as the basis for certification for sustainability
● Offer both public and private sectors a starting point by providing basic guidelines for MICE businesses to become more sustainable, including guidance for identifying more sustainable suppliers and service providers
● Help consumers identify sustainable MICE businesses
● Serve as a common denominator for recognizing sustainable MICE businesses, helping businesses in choosing sustainable suppliers and partners
● Serve as basic guidelines for education and training on sustainable MICE practices
● Demonstrate leadership that inspires others to act

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