Tourist attractions in Singapore gearing up for 2010

SINGAPORE : Tourist attractions in Singapore are pulling out all the stops to draw in visitors this festive season.

And they are not stopping there. Many of them said visitors can expect more promotions and events in 2010. For example, visitors can feed flamingos at the Jurong Bird Park, as part of the attraction's Latin Fiesta-themed year-end celebrations.

Its sister attractions, the Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo, are also planning similar activities, including appearances by Wild Tarzan Santa and an elephant showcase.

Meanwhile, Sentosa is hosting a range of family-friendly activities, including sand sculpting, playing of percussions and puppet storytelling. And they are not the only ones hoping to cash in on the tourist dollar this festive period.

Wendy Leong, general manager, City Tours, said: "We have the Christmas light-up tour. In the past, we did it just for 40 minutes, so that is why with the three-hour tour this year, we have an increase in the number of tourists coming into Singapore to join up with us."

Others are hoping the opening of the two integrated resorts will help boost business by helping to attract tourists here.

Patsy Ong, managing director, Adval Brand Group, said: "We are pretty much affected by the global economic crisis - we have seen a 25 per cent drop in visitorship, largely from the corporates and from overseas visitors... We are optimistic about it, but we are (also) cautious."

Between April and November 2009, Sentosa saw an increase in visitorship as compared to the same period last year. And it expects visitorship to the island to more than double to 15 million to 20 million over the next few years when Resorts World opens.

While some operators remain unsure about what the year ahead will bring, most are already gearing up for 2010, with new packages, promotions and new attractions ready to draw in the tourists.

Noel Hawkes, vice president, Resort Operations, Resorts World Sentosa, said: "We are going to open with a bang. It is going to be 20 attractions within Universal Studios, which includes the fabulous duelling roller coaster, the Madagascar, Revenge of the Mummy... Jurassic Park and many, many more.

"Of course, (there are also) the retail options and F&B. Four hotels... we have got Hotel Michael, Crockfords Tower, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock. Plus we have got the casino and that is going to occupy 150,000 square feet and it is really beautiful; it has got a lot of restaurants in there. We have got a mass gaming floor, plus the VIP gaming area on the second level."

The Singapore Tourism Board said it is hopeful that tourists arrivals in 2010 will surpass the 9 million to 9.5 million visitors expected this year. - CNA/ms


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Dubai defines small business

SINGAPORE — The number of tourists visiting Singapore rose in November at its fastest rate this year, the government said Monday.

The city-state welcomed 830,000 foreign visitors during the month, up 8.4 percent on the same period last year, the country's tourism board said in a statement.

Tourist numbers slumped in the first eight months of 2009 as people cut back on business and leisure travel due to the worldwide economic downturn, but started growing again in September.

Visitors from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Australia and India accounted for over half of the arrivals in November, the board said.

Singapore is aiming for up to 9.5 million visitors this year, generating an expected 12.0-12.5 billion Singapore dollars (8.6-9.0 billion US) in revenue.

It received 10.1 million visitors last year, missing its target of 10.8 million as travel slowed in the second half due to the global slump.


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STB optimistic that tourist arrivals will be better in 2010

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects more holiday makers and business travellers to come to Singapore next year.

STB said it is cautiously optimistic that tourist arrivals in 2010 will surpass this year's 9 to 9.5 million visitors.

Among its trump cards will be the two integrated resorts and the Formula One Grand Prix.

High octane events like the F1 race have revved up the tourism scene in Singapore. It has also spiced up the nightlife, with F1 Rocks concerts attracting some 30,000 party goers in September.

In view of the good response, the Singapore Tourism Board aims to do more next year.

Aw Kah Peng, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "It broadens the market and opens it up. Will we do a bit more in terms of art, whether it's photo exhibition, sculptures and so on? Yes, it's possible.

"Will we have things that involve the drivers and the cars? Possible too. We are working a lot of ideas on the ground."

Apart from the leisure events, there will also be a strong pipeline of conferences in 2010, including the Singapore International Water Week.

The event attracted more than 10,000 participants and saw S$2.2 billion worth of deals sealed this year.

STB added: "We are seeing some interesting trends. Next year, you will see about three times as many business events that are newly created compared to this year and it's because people see the opportunity for growth in Asia."

Asia is likely to be where most of the visitors will be coming from. STB said currently, almost all of its top 10 markets are Asian, making up 70 per cent of total arrivals to Singapore.

And what's a visit to Singapore without visiting the two aces in the pack - the integrated resorts? Each attraction is expected to contribute a value add of S$2.7 billion or 0.8 per cent to Singapore's GDP.

With economic recovery underway, their prospects look bright. But some observers said it is too early to tell if they will live up to expectations.

Neo Boon Siong, director, Asia Competitiveness Institute, said: "We have a lot more competition now in Macau and elsewhere. So I think you have some positive effects, but it may take a while for us to learn how to reach those new tourist markets.

"It will not be an immediate big bang, I suspect. There will be incremental activities, but it will be largely an experimental market for the next couple of years."

And Singapore being plugged into the world could be exposed to some downside risks ahead.

Song Seng Wun, regional economist, CIMB-GK Research, said: "It could be US unemployment rising far more sharply then expected. Unemployment rate is already 10 per cent and it could go higher and for longer as well.

"That certainly means that one engine of global growth - the US economy - will be a big drag; others can be, say, asset bubble bursting."

Despite the uncertainties, STB is cautiously optimistic about 2010. One key challenge though is manpower training and raising service standards. - CNA/vm


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Uniquely Singapore

Singapore is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of size, as it is a city state. But in terms of tourist potential and attractions, it can surely give many big nations a run for their money.

The Singapore Zoo is one of the most spectacular zoos in the world, having more than 3,600 mammals, birds and reptiles. Sentosa Island is nothing short of magical as it has gained international fame for holding some of Singapore's most exciting themed events like the Sentosa Sandsation (an international sand sculpting event), Black Moon Foam Parties, Zouk Out Dance Festival and Sentosa's Yearly Countdown Parties.

Singapore also boasts of being one of the cleanest cities in the world with a well-ordered and -mannered population that is ever ready to welcome guests and tourists.


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Visa on arrival for tourists from five nations

NEW DELHI: In a major boost for Commonwealth Games 2010, the government has introduced for the first time `visa on arrival' scheme for tourists from five countries from early next year.

Tourists from Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan will be given visa on arrival facility on a pilot basis for a period of one year, Sujit Banerjee, tourism secretary, said. The scheme will be applicable in airports as well as ports across the country.

The decision was taken after tourism ministry had sought introduction of the scheme for tourists coming from these countries which are potential source markets for India. Keeping in view present-day threat perception, the ministry has suggested that citizens from nine countries including Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Finland, Netherlands, Laos, Japan, Cambodia and South Africa be allowed to avail this facility.

"We will pursue extending the VoA facility to the remaining four countries as well,'' Banerjee said.

Visa on arrival facility is offered by several southeast Asian countries and proves popular with foreign tourists looking for a short break. Germany and Japan are among the top 10 source countries for India while Brazil and Netherlands have shown encouraging growth over the last year.

The modalities of implementation of the scheme are being worked out with all the stakeholders and will be notified very shortly, Banerjee said. The visa on arrival scheme is expected to provide a quantum jump in foreign tourist arrivals to India from these countries.

"We hope that visa on arrival facility will give a fillip to foreign tourist arrivals. We have kept security concerns on mind before restricting the facility to these five countries,'' a ministry source said.

Incidentally, India has already introduced long-term multiple entry visa for 18 countries including France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland
, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Vietnam in 2006.

Due to security reasons, countries like the US, UK and Pakistan are out of the list of nine countries that will be accorded the facility, officials said. But this could change once airlines
offer advance passenger information.


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Singapore Surprise

Scenic, clean and picture-perfect, Singapore is a perfect tourist destination. It strikes an idyllic balance between the rising growth of metropolitan cities and traditional suburbs.

I travelled with a pre-planned itinerary as advised, which made my stay in Singapore a lot more organised and much easier. On the first day, I had the morning to myself, which I spent at Esplanade, a stunning waterfront location. It connects to Merlion Park, a popular tourist destination named after the national symbol of Singapore — The Merlion. The Merlion has the body of a fish, which represents Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village, and the head of a lion, which symbolises the legend of the discovery of the country. Situated centrally, both Esplanade and Merlion Park are equipped with a mall, several restaurants and a breathtaking view of the city’s marina.

After a bit of retail therapy and picture-taking, it was time for the much-awaited Singapore night safari. It claims to be the world’s first night safari and offers an exhilarating display of the predatory and survival skills of wild animals.

Before I could start, I was warned not to step down from a moving tram and to keep my hands (and head) in at all times so I don’t get 
eaten alive!

With that in mind, I hopped on to one of the open trams for a 45-minute ride and tour of the jungles. Venturing deep into the heart of the wildnerness, I was in awe of the animals moving all around me, including leopards, wild elephants, giraffes, tigers and, of course, the king of the 
jungle: the lion.

Much to the despair of my mother, my father and I hiked across the marked trails to see more animals and study their nocturnal habits. We caught glimpses of Malayan bats hunting and giant flying squirrels gliding over our heads. Just when I thought I was done for the day, I came across a unique kind of pedicure. I dunked my tootsies in a tank full of Doctor Fish who nibbled away at my feet, enjoying themselves quite a bit, 
if I may say so. One man’s trash is indeed another’s treasure!

After the safari came a spectacular performance by the Thumbuakar Tribe who literally lit up the night with daring acts that included fire eating, tribal stunts, blowpipe demonstrations, and a tribal dance.

The next day started with a city tour that included visits to the National Orchid Garden and Thian Hock Keng, the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore. For a person not too fond of flowers, The Orchid Garden was a pleasant surprise. With more than 20,000 orchids and eye-catching flowers from around the world, I felt like I was in a fairytale. The flowers are designed and placed in the most beautiful and creative ways. However, my visit to Thian Hock Keng was more moving. My tour guide, Fifi, shared her memories of her parents sleeping in the temple along with 
hundreds of other people from Singapore’s Chinese community.

I also visited her old one-bedroom house in China Town which she shared with 40 other people. With hardly any room to move, Fifi and her sisters would spend their days there while her brothers 
attended school. It was heartening to see what a long way she has come from those days. I was told all three of her kids are now in university and studying on scholarships.

After a few more visits to historical monuments around town, it was time for some adventure. I was most eager to get to Sentosa, an island resort theme park. From riding the Luge, a self steering, gravity-driven cart, to the Megazip, one of the longest and steepest ziplines in Asia, to travelling 110 metres above ground on the Tiger Sky Tower, I was pumped with adrenaline. This probably explains why I befriended a python at one of the park’s kiosks and happily let it wrap itself around my neck for some photos.

After visiting a few more attractions, I was done for the day and was ready to get on the cable car to take me back to the main city. And on that high note, it was the perfect end to 
my trip.


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Singapore Passenger Cruise Terminal

Singapore's new International Cruise Terminal was recently launched with the facility at Marina South, costing S$500 million, and coming as global demand for the cruise market is estimated to hit 27 million passengers by 2020 - a two-fold growth within adecade, according to Singapore news reports.

The Singapore Tourist Board expects to welcome its 100th cruise passenger by the year end, the highest in 10 years. In the first half of this year passenger arrivals grew 20% year on year to 540,000, which is more than the total number of tourists arriving in Sri Lanka in the whole year.

At the groundbreaking of the International Cruise Terminal, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said: "Since the Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbour Front commenced operations in 1991, Singapore's cruise passenger throughput has been rising steadily as evidenced by the average annual growth rate of 12 percent in the last five years.

In 2008 over 1000 cruise ships called in Singapore chalking up the passenger input of over 920,000. The Port of Colombo lost its only cruise operation carried out by Indian Ocean Lines for 2 years with the vessel 'Ocean Odyssey' to Mauritius. Observers said cruise passengers tend to spend about 30 percent more on average, which could boost Singapore's economy.


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