[MSME Sustainability Made Possible] From Inclusion to Impact: Sustainable Tourism & Financing as the Catalytic Engine for a Thriving Shared Future

 

This panel at the Singapore FinTech Festival brought together leaders from diverse sectors to discuss how sustainable tourism and financing can drive MSME development and contribute to a thriving future. Key participants included Jennifer Villalobos from Asset World Corporation (AWC), Nadia Omer from AirAsia MOVE, Dr. Richard Jeo from Conservation International, and Vincent Iswara from DANA, moderated by Zhang Yinfan from Ant International. 

Key Points Discussed 
1. Building Sustainability in the Hospitality Sector 

  • AWC’s Vision: Focuses on ""Better Planet, Better People, Better Prosperity. As Thailand’s largest luxury hospitality owner, AWC is committed to sustainability across its properties. 
  • Stay to Sustain Program: Guests staying at AWC hotels contribute to local community efforts, such as forest protection and supporting local artists and farmers. 
  • Retail and Digital Innovations: The Gallery and the Pikul app promote local artisan products and offer cashless transactions for global travellers, creating an ecosystem that promotes local prosperity and digital efficiency. 


2. Affordable, Inclusive Travel and Sustainability  

  • Focus on Value Travel: AirAsia MOVE emphasizes affordability, suggesting less expensive but equally attractive travel destinations to combat over-tourism. 
  • Efficient Travel Practices: Filling empty airline seats to reduce per-passenger carbon footprints and promoting local food and shopping to lower environmental impacts. 
  • Cultural Values: Highlighted Asia’s ingrained culture of resource conservation, which aligns with sustainable travel practices. 


3. Conservation and Community Benefits  

  • Nature as a Foundation: Emphasized that people need nature for essential resources and personal well-being. Sustainable tourism must support the biodiversity and local communities. 
  • Collaborative Partnerships: Conservation efforts should involve non-traditional partnerships between conservation NGOs, corporations, and technology firms to ensure that local communities benefit economically from preserving nature. 


4. Sustainable FinTech Solutions 

  • Commitment to Efficiency: DANA is dedicated to reducing energy consumption per transaction and has already achieved energy efficiency levels three times better than traditional payment systems like Visa and Mastercard. 
  • Reducing Waste with Digital Payments: Digital transactions eliminate the waste associated with cash and coins, supporting environmental goals and streamlining the payment process for MSMEs. 
  • Focus on Sustainability: Stressed the importance of institutional commitment to ESG initiatives and continuous improvements in digital efficiency. 


Final Takeaways 
Each panellist shared a single, impactful keyword: 

  • Jennifer Villalobos: Purpose — Travel and tourism should be meaningful and driven by a higher purpose, benefiting both travellers and local communities. 
  • Dr. Richard Jeo: Nature — Emphasised the necessity of preserving nature for both environmental and human well-being. 
  • Nadia Omer: Inclusivity — Highlighted that sustainable practices should be accessible to all, regardless of income level. 
  • Vincent Iswara: Commitment — Urged organisations to remain committed to their sustainability and ESG goals. 


Conclusion 
The session underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors to drive sustainable tourism and support MSMEs. By combining technology, conservation efforts, hospitality initiatives, and financial innovations, the panelists provided a comprehensive vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future in travel and tourism. 

 

Watch Full Session

 

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Villalobos, Chief Digitization Business Officer, Asset World Corporation
  • Nadia Omer, Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia MOVE
  • Dr. Richard Jeo, Chief Field Officer, Conservation International
  • Vincent Iswara, Chief Executive Officer, DANA

Moderator:

  • Zhang Yinfan, Director for International Public Policy & Government Affairs, Ant International

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