Weekend tours to reach more than 28,000 visitors over three years starting December 2022.

Keppel Corporation has, through its philanthropic arm, Keppel Care Foundation, pledged $300,000 over the next three years to support the new Nature & Sustainability Tours programme to be conducted at Gardens by the Bay (the Gardens) – Singapore’s premier horticultural attraction for local and international visitors. The programme will comprise free guided walking tours of the Gardens to educate visitors about the importance and interconnectedness of the natural environment, biodiversity and climate change, and raise awareness on the urgency of climate action.

The partnership was announced at Gardens by the Bay’s 10^th anniversary event held today, graced by Guest-of-Honour President Halimah Yacob, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Mr Desmond Lee, as well as former Ministers at the Ministry of National Development, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong, Mr Khaw Boon Wan and Mr Mah Bow Tan.

Set to commence in December 2022, the Nature & Sustainability Tours, to be led by professional guides, will comprise five different routes structured around the themes of Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Carbon and Climate, Energy and Water, Urban Wetlands, as well as Seeds and Senses, with the Gardens serving as a working model for sustainability and conservation. The programme will start with the first two themes of 'Urban Wetlands’ and ‘Carbon and Climate’ in the first year. The hour-long tours will run every weekend over the next three years and are expected to reach more than 28,000 visitors in total.

Mr Loh Chin Hua, Chief Executive Officer of Keppel Corporation, said, “We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Gardens by the Bay on its 10th Anniversary to raise public awareness on climate change, environmental conservation and biodiversity. This is in line with Keppel’s commitment to sustainability and complements other efforts of the Group in promoting nature-based solutions for climate change and sustainable living. We hope the Nature & Sustainability Tours will provide a stimulating and enjoyable learning experience, and inspire even more people to take further steps to care for our planet.”

Mr Felix Loh, Chief Executive Officer of Gardens by the Bay, said, “Championing a sustainable culture among the community is one of Gardens by the Bay’s key goals as we move beyond our tenth year. With the generous donation from Keppel, more in the community will now have the opportunity to learn about the many sustainable features of Gardens by the Bay and the urgency of climate change. Let’s come together to create a sustainable Singapore.”

Beyond the financial contribution, Keppel’s staff volunteers will also collaborate with Gardens by the Bay by helping to facilitate some of the guided tours. M1, a subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, will also work with Gardens by the Bay and help to digitalise contents to be used during the Nature and Sustainability Tours. Earlier on, in September 2022, M1 had also announced its partnership with Gardens by the Bay to provide fast-speed 5G connectivity and immersive metaverse experiences in the indoor venues. The enhanced connectivity and cloud infrastructure provided by M1 will open up new opportunities for phygital events to be held at the Gardens.

The Nature & Sustainability Tours will be offered free-of-charge to all Singapore residents and those living in Singapore, including admission to the Flower Dome/ Cloud Forest for selected tours.

For more information on the Nature & Sustainability Tours, please visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.

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About Keppel Corporation

Keppel Corporation is one of Singapore’s flagship multinational companies with a global footprint in more than 20 countries. Keppel provides solutions for sustainable urbanisation, focusing on four key areas comprising energy & environment, urban development, connectivity and asset management. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Keppel harnesses the strengths and expertise of its business units to develop, operate and maintain real assets, which provide diverse solutions that are good for the planet, for people and for the Company.

About Gardens by the Bay

An integral part of Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision, Gardens by the Bay is a national garden and premier horticultural attraction that showcases the best of garden and floral artistry for all to enjoy. Spanning 101 hectares in the heart of Singapore’s downtown Marina Bay, it comprises three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central. Bay South, the largest at 54 hectares, officially opened on 29 June 2012.

Guided by the vision to be a world of gardens for all to own, enjoy and cherish, the Gardens’ extensive plant collection, ever-changing floral displays, and myriad of engaging programmes have captured the imagination of many, while its Gift of Gardens community initiative, with Madam Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore as Patron, reaches out to people from all walks of life.

Since opening, Gardens by the Bay has welcomed more than 85 million visitors and garnered numerous international awards including a silver for Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid at the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2021, Best Attraction Experience at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2019, and ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award presented by ASEAN Tourism in 2018. The Gardens continues to refresh and refine its offerings, to be a place that everyone can enjoy – a garden where wonder blooms.

For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.