Sunday, May 31, 2009

S'pore's next tourist attraction?

ONE of the things you often hear about Singapore's tourist attractions is that they're fake.

That's why this stretch of Upper Thomson Road between Yio Chu Kang Road and the Seletar Expressway deserves a closer look.

It is real, it is alive, and it lies at the heart of the Singapore Story. It can be a tourist attraction with a difference.

Bearing silent testimony to the vision of Singapore's founding fathers, these trees will also be their legacy, grander than any monument, for hundreds of years.

Sure, Upper Thomson Road is not Australia's Great Ocean Road.

But smack in the middle of our bustling city on a tiny, pancake island, we have created our own scenic drive.

It's an achievement to be proud of.

The road can work as a tourist attraction in three ways.

Firstly, the pristine jungles of Lower Pierce Reservoir can be opened up for eco-tourism. This will make Upper Thomson Road its gateway, and a breath-taking curtain-raiser.

Will tourists be interested in Singapore's flora and fauna? There's a good chance they will. Dr David Bellamy, a renowned conservationist, once remarked that Bukit Timah Nature Reserve contains more plant species than the whole of North America.

Secondly, we can promote it together with Singapore's street racing heritage. Singapore's gritty street circuit in the 1960s was located right next to this 'green road'.

Imagine: F1 with a Garden City twist.

Thirdly, this road can lead tourists to the heartland neighbourhoods of Ang Mo Kio and Sembawang, making their visit more multi-facted and authentic.

But it's not just about the tourism.

At a recent dialogue, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew revealed how the greening of Singapore was a way to woo investors in the early days.

Today, as Singapore forges ahead, these trees, now fully-grown, serve another important purpose:

They make Singapore feel like home.

Source

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Novotel Clarke Quay Offering Great Package Options for Great Singapore Sale


(1888PressRelease) May 22, 2009 - Novotel Clarke Quay, One of Singapore's best located hotels, is gearing up for the Great Singapore Sale with fantastic room rates, as well as launching the “Great Singapore Sale Recession Package”

“The Great Super Sale Recession Package” is ideal for visitors staying in Singapore for a number of days. For only SG$198++ per night guests who book and stay on the promotional package (for a minimum of 2 nights) will receive a $100.00 cash back to use in the hotels restaurants, bars or mini bar. With such a special offer, this promotion can only be booked direct at the hotel by calling +65 6338 3333. More details are available at http://www.novotelclarkequay.com.sg/promotion/index.htm

The Great Singapore Sale runs from the 29th of May to the 26th of July, 8 weeks in total. Novotel Clarke Quay's sale runs for the same period.

Novotel's Singapore’s Great Singapore Sale Recession Package will add to those offered by the Singapore Tourism Board. A Great Singapore Sale tourist privilege card will be presented along with their passports to all incoming visitors during the sale period. The card entitles bearers to discounts at Club 21 Bazaar, Vera Wang, Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani, Kenneth Cole, G200 & G2 Black Label and more.

There are two new developments set to open in June 2009, to coincide with the beginning of the sale. The new 12-level 'vertical mall', Orchard Central, as well as the Illuma at Bugis will have their grand openings within the month.

Almost $500 million was spent in the first month of the Great Singapore Sale last year, defying the global slowdown and boosting turnover year-on-year for the first month of the sale by more than 30%.

Mr. Simon Jones believes the Great Singapore Sales Recession Package, will be a welcome option for many visitors traveling to Singapore for the Singapore Sale. Mr. Jones commented “ it’s a great opportunity for visitors to book accommodation at one of Singapore’s best located hotels, and take advantage of the saving with the $100 cash back, giving your credit card some time to relax while still being able to use the hotel facilities”.

About Novotel Clarke Quay:

Novotel Clarke Quay, situated in the heart of Singapore and within the vibrant and dynamic Clarke Quay area, is one of Singapore's best located hotels, both for tourists and business travelers. Novotel Clarke Quay features 401 recently renovated rooms each with magnificent and un-obstructed views of the meandering Singapore River. The hotel’s guest rooms have been upgraded to Novotel’s latest design standards offering state of the art amenities such as flat screen televisions with DVD players and versatile pivoting workstations developed with the traveling executive in mind.

For more information please contact:

Simon Jones
Resident Manager, Novotel Clarke Quay
Email: H5993-GM1 ( @ ) accor dot com

Source

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Singapore skyline tour is a high priority for any tourist


The passport control officer offered us sweets as she stamped our passport - in conversation we agreed that this was the friendliest passport experience ever.

With just a few hours to spend in this great bustling city, the perfect place to spend at least some of it is on the Singapore Flyer.

The first thing you will be told is that it is even taller than the London Eye - it stands at 165m, the height of a 42-storey building.

And in a city of skyscrapers, it's probably just as well.

The 30-minute flight costs S$29.50 (R174) for an adult and includes an audio guide to the city.

The audio points to the iconic and historical landmarks and views, from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Empress Place and the Padang.

From it you can see the city's most beloved icon - the Merlion, which is wrapped in blue protective sheeting awaiting repairs after being struck by lightning recently.

You can also see a full-scale model of a new casino development and, in the background, the jungle of cranes as the real thing is built. The casino development is Singapore-style - three skyscrapers linked together by a roof.

And if that doesn't excite you, you can always go shopping on Orchard Road or visit Sentosa island, walk around the Chinese quarters or if you have time, go and have a a G & T at Raffles. Delve a little and you will find Singapore a fascinating place. But should you need a new camera, Singapore offers competitive prices.

Source

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Flu scare affecting Johor tourism


JOHOR BARU: The influenza A(H1N1) virus has come as a double whammy to the tourism industry that is still reeling from the effects of the global recession.

Tour groups in Singapore have cancelled plans for travel in June, which is a popular holiday period during the island republic’s school break.

Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said there was also a slowdown in bookings from countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“The industry has already seen a 40% slump in the past six months due to the economic uncertainties.

“We expect to see a drop in revenue as people hold back their travel plans because of the unpredictable situation of the pandemic, he said.

However, Leong said the real impact of the flu on tourism would only be felt in the next few months as those, who had paid in advance for their tours, would usually continue with their plans.

“Johor is particularly vulnerable as it is dependant on Singapore for the bulk of its tourist arrivals,” said Leong.

The last time the tourism industry was badly hit by a pandemic was during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

He said hotels had learnt from the SARS episode and were now prepared to separate and isolate their guests in special rooms if any showed signs of illness.

“It is worrying as the livelihood of those dependent on the tourism industry is also at stake,” he said.

However, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Ngiam Foon said the outbreak had yet to affect outbound travel, with many Malaysians still going ahead with their vacation plans.

He said Malaysians did not panic easily although they would monitor the health status of their destinations before departing.

“At present, there is minimal impact on Malaysian travellers. There are no cancellations as yet.

“The consumers are smart as they will find out the true status of their intended destination before travelling. Regional travel is not affected,” he said.

Source

Friday, May 8, 2009

Singapore’s strategy: Sops for cos to prevent lay-offs


Recently in Singapore If you can’t keep them, train them. And get an incentive for it. That’s the strategy corporates in Singapore are adopting in the face of increasing lay-offs in the manufacturing, banking and financial sectors as fallout of the recession in the West.

With factory production lines grinding to a halt and businesses in banks, airlines, printing and publishing slowing down, the Government is giving incentives to companies to retain staff and use the downturn period to upgrade skills and ready employees for the upturn.

This could hold lessons for most countries, including India, where job losses of about half a million in the organised sector were reported by the latest Labour Bureau estimates for September to December 2008.

Five months ago, Singapore rolled out SPUR (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience) to help companies manage excess manpower and reduce retrenchment rates. Under the programme, laid off individuals can approach career centres to enhance skills or learn new ones in fields where job opportunities exist.
Subsidy

SPUR, run by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency in consultation with the country’s manpower ministry and largest trade unions and employee federations, has built the $600-million (Singapore dollar) scheme to cater to the needs of blue-collared workers and skilled professionals. Under the programme, companies are offered a higher absentee payroll subsidy for sending their employees for training programmes and a lower course fees. The subsidy offers companies a payment per employee for each hour the staff attends a training programme. The course fee for employees has also been slashed, making it an attractive proposition for corporates.

Companies who were planning to shed their staff are also resorting to a shorter workweek. For instance, companies that used to work six days a week are now making the workweek four or five days, with staff taking a 50 per cent cut in idle day salary or utilising the time for upgrading skills or retraining for another or additional jobs.

“I used to work with the shipping industry. With exports to the US and UK down, I was one of those laid off. Through SPUR, I retrained for my present job,” said a taxi driver.

He, however, said in this business too the last few months have been tough as food prices are still high and tourist arrivals are fewer.
Career Shift

Under SPUR, the programme for PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, Technicians) has a number of conversion programmes which enable employees to switch to a range of new occupations where vacancies are available, such as registered nurses, occupational therapists, media professionals, property officers and even preschool teachers. Technically-qualified PMETs are also given industry specialised training for employment in the same industry.

For example, a finance industry professional can specialise in risk management or product control through various training institutes.

Customer service managers can work towards a diploma in tourism, while engineering professionals in the pharma and biologics sectors can train in pharmaceutical manufacturing, a sector in need of skilled professionals.
Allowance

To make the courses even more viable, WDA announced that jobless citizens who join these courses would not have to wait to finish their training to receive a training allowance. They would start receiving a small amount when the course starts.

“This is so that the trainees are ensured of some cash to spend during their training period in this difficult period of their lives,” explained a trainer who has been involved in the exercise.

Source

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