[Photo credit: Singapore National Trades Union Congress]
- The partnership aims to equip Singapore’s tourism professionals with essential sustainability skills, aligning training with global sustainability standards for tourism.
- The partnership also supports key sustainability roadmaps for the Singapore tourism sector and aims to meet evolving demands, aligning with Singapore’s strategic sustainability goals.
NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) have formalized their commitment to equip professionals in Singapore’s tourism sector with sustainability skills and capabilities through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on the 11th of November, at the Hospitality and Consumer Business (HCB) Symposium organized by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). The MoU supports professionals in the tourism industry by combining NTUC LHUB’s expertise in delivering contextualized training with GSTC’s international leadership in sustainable tourism standards.
The strategic partnership between NTUC LHUB and GSTC focuses on delivering existing GSTC courses such as the GSTC Accessibility & Inclusive Travel Course, the GSTC Applied DEI in Travel Course, the GSTC Tour Operator Course; In addition, the two organisations will also co-develop new programs such as the GSTC MICE Course, the GSTC Sustainable Attractions Course and the GSTC Sustainability Fundamentals101, to provide essential knowledge in sustainability for tourism professionals.
To enable effective training facilitation, the programs which will commence progressively from June 2025, will be conducted by a panel of professionals with diverse and extensive experience in the travel sector. Singaporeans and Permanent Residents will receive funding support up to 70% for the programs.
A “Train-the-Trainer” initiative will also be launched, where GSTC will train NTUC LHUB trainers to ensure that they are well-versed in the GSTC Criteria. This will further strengthen the delivery of high-quality training that aligns with global best practices in sustainability.
Mr. Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, said, “Staff training is essential for embedding sustainability into the core of tourism operations. We are pleased to partner with NTUC LearningHub to offer training based on the GSTC Criteria. This partnership will not only benefit the professionals in Singapore but also set a benchmark for sustainable practices in the region.”
Mr. Jeremy Ong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, said, “Sustainability is no longer a niche concern, but it is now a critical imperative for the future of the tourism industry in Singapore. Through our partnership with GSTC, we are equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills to integrate sustainability practices into their operations. At NTUC LearningHub, we are committed to helping Singapore’s tourism sector thrive by providing accessible, relevant, and forward-looking training programs that enable our workforce to stay competitive in an evolving industry.”
About NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Infocomm Technology, Generative AI & Cloud, Healthcare, Retail & Food Services, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources & Coaching and Foreign Workers Training.
To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 29,000 organisations and achieved more than 2.6 million training places across more than 2,900 courses with a pool of about 900 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships to offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training. Besides in-person training, we also offer instructor-led virtual live classes (VLCs) and asynchronous online learning. The NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP) — a one-stop online learning mobile application — offers timely, bite-sized and quality content for learners to upskill anytime and anywhere. Beyond learning, LXP also serves as a platform for jobs and skills development for both workers and companies.
For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators, and MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do.
GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
In the photo, from left to right: (1) Mr Lee Cheh Hsien, Assistant Chief Executive, Corporate and Sustainability, Sentosa Development Corporation, (2) Ms Adeline Lim, Vice President, Professional Development, Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, (3) Mr Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, (4) Mr Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress, (5) Mr Jeremy Ong, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC LearningHub, (6) Ms Julie Cheong, Co-Chairman, Hospitality & Consumer Business Cluster & Member, Central Committee, National Trades Union Congress, (7) Ms Lam Xue Ying, Vice President, S.E.A. Aquarium & Dolphin Island, Resorts World Sentosa, (8) Mr Khoo Yew Jin, Vice President, Brand & Customer Experience, Constellar
