SUPPORTED THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
Paying tribute to the outgoing Mr Tan, MTI said that under his leadership, he led STB in developing, marketing and promoting Singapore as a vibrant destination for quality business and leisure travellers.
“He grew the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, positioning it as an enabler of Singapore’s role as a key global-Asia hub and a valuable source of business opportunities for Singapore companies”.
MTI also lauded his efforts to champion sustainability and wellness as key strategies for Singapore tourism, alongside strengthening the digital and data capabilities of STB and the tourism sector.
“These efforts culminated in the inaugural Singapore Wellness Festival in 2022 and Singapore becoming the first country to be certified as a sustainable destination based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria in 2023.”
When international borders were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly impacting visitor arrivals, Mr Tan “guided the tourism sector to support the fight against COVID-19”, with hotels, cruise lines and MICE venues serving as facilities for recovery and care.
He also spearheaded efforts to safely reopen Singapore’s tourism sector from late 2021, leading to the full reopening of tourist facilties and infrastructure last year.
Mr Gabriel Lim, Permanent Secretary (Policy) for MTI, said: “Keith and Melissa have demonstrated strong leadership and made invaluable contributions. Keith played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s tourism landscape and we thank him for his many contributions to the industry.”
“Melissa is no stranger to Singapore’s tourism scene. With her immense experience and strategic thinking, I am confident that she will steer STB to scale new heights.”