Singapore Tourism Sector Launches First Joint Student Chapter: Six Institutes of Higher Learning and Two Industry Associations Sign On at Marina Bay Sands on October 23
SINGAPORE — Singapore's hospitality and tourism sector launched its first joint Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic Hospitality and Tourism Student Chapter on October 23, 2026, at Marina Bay Sands, TTG Asia reported. The initiative was unveiled during the second edition of the Singapore Hospitality and Tourism Conference (SHTC), which brought together approximately 480 students, educators and industry partners.
The student chapter was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed by six institutes of higher learning — ITE, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic — alongside the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) and the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA). Operating under the Tourism, Hospitality & Operations Management Sector Coordination Team framework, co-chaired by Temasek Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, the initiative aims to align academic preparation with industry needs.
Ong Huey Hong, assistant chief executive of the industry development group at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said the student chapter would help students transition into full-time careers in tourism through structured networking, learning journeys and mentorship from industry partners such as SACEOS and SHA. "The challenge today is about learning and applying skills in real life, and I feel this chapter really helps close that gap because it encourages more industries to engage students for internships," Ong said. Ong also shared that Singapore's tourism workforce grew by eight per cent, from 69,000 to 75,000, between 2023 and 2025, while first-choice applications for tourism courses across polytechnics increased by 20 per cent between 2022 and 2026.
Alongside the launch, SHTC 2026 featured a career fair connecting students with more than 20 employers, offering approximately 1,400 job and internship opportunities, including first-time exhibitors Banyan Tree, Museum of Ice Cream Singapore and The Lo & Behold Group. Marina Bay Sands also sponsored a student hackathon, challenging 40 students to explore ways of integrating SI with human-centred hospitality. STB also announced the upcoming launch of the Age for Productivity grant on November 1, 2026, which will offer pre-approved digital concierge and robotics solutions to help tourism companies adopt technology.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：新加坡滨海湾天际线（资料图）。照片：Dietmar Rabich，CC BY-SA 4.0，经维基共享资源。 / The Marina Bay skyline in Singapore (file photo). Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
