Business is booming for restaurants, attractions at Sentosa

SINGAPORE : Restaurants and tourist attractions at Sentosa have enjoyed a 20 per cent increase in their business since Resorts World Sentosa opened a week ago.

Sentosa Leisure Group said it is seeing an average of 30,000 visitors each day during this Lunar New Year.

That is twice more than the daily average.

Sentosa Leisure Group added that the Merlion is its top attraction during the Lunar New Year.

It has seen a 30 per cent increase in visitors, compared to the same period last year.

And visitors to the island are also staying an average of one day as compared to half a day before.

Hotels like Rasa Sentosa Resort are also welcoming more visitors.

Rasa Sentosa is fully booked during this Lunar New Year period.

Anticipating more visitors to the island, it has decided to close for renovations for 10 months to add new rooms and facilities.

Ben Bousnina, general manager, Rasa Sentosa Resort, said: "(Now that) Resorts World has arrived...I do not think we will have enough rooms on the island, because the whole world would like to come to Sentosa Island which has become a world's destination."


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Singapore Casino Attracts Record Amount of Visitors

Resorts World Sentosa, the first casino to open in Singapore, has attracted 35,000 visitors in just two days. Visits to the Sentosa Island were up by 20% to 75,000, when compared with 2009’s tourist levels. In order to cope with demand, the casino management split the queues into Singapore residents and overseas visitors. While the former managed to get into the new resort relatively quickly, reports have suggested that the foreign visitors queue often surpassed the 100 metre mark, with some queuing for over two hours.

Only a few of the attractions at the casino opened over the weekend, but those that did took in a phenomenal amount of visitors, with patrons having to queue for 30-40 minutes for a table. The Singapore newspaper, Straits Times, has remarked that the queues were an unexpected “teething problem” for Resorts World Sentosa, with visitor surges throughout the weekend meaning that many were refused entry during peak times. Krist Boo, the vice-president of communications at Resorts World told reporters that the queues were often “overwhelming”, noting that they have had a “very good response to the casino opening”.


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Singapore Tourism Report Q1 2010 - new market report released

Singapore's tourism industry experienced a difficult H109 Visitor arrivals were down by 11.5%, to just 4.51mn in January-June. The Singapore Tourist Board (STB) attributed the poor performance primarily to the global economic crisis, but arrivals from North Asia were also reduced due to the effects of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) pandemic.

From the halfway point of the year, tourist
arrivals resumed an upwards trend. In December 2009, the STB said visitor arrivals stood at 8.71mn for January-November. Strong increases were recorded in arrivals from Indonesia, Malaysia and China over October and November. That said, we believe the most likely outcome for the year as a whole is a slight fall in arrivals from 2008’s 10.12mn arrivals, mainly as a result of the very poor first half.

…But The Longer-Term Prognosis Remains Positive
Although 2009 was difficult for the Singaporean tourism industry, there are reasons to be positive about the medium-to-long term as the global economy recovers. In particular, the opening of the two integrated resorts, at Marina Bay and Sentosa, in 2010 should help the island attract new tourists. Also in 2010, Singapore will host the first Youth Olympics and open the International Cruise Terminal.

Tiger Airways Announces IPO

In January 2010, Singapore's Tiger Airways unveiled its long awaited initial public offering (IPO) of stock in the company. The airline hopes to raise SGD273mn via the IPO, which it will use to fund aircraft purchases and pay down debt.

Some media reports said Tiger Airways had initially hoped to raise more money via the IPO, but an uncertain outlook for global investment markets and the challenging outlook for the airline industry may have both played a part in the downsizing of the offer.

Integrated Resorts

Opening Soon Four of the new hotels at the Sentosa integrated resort – Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore –start phased opening in late January 2010. The other two hotels at the resort are the Equarius Hotel and Spa Villas. Bookings for the hotels opened in H209. Other attractions at Sentosa will include a Universal Studios theme park, a casino and the world’s largest oceanarium. We believe Sentosa and other new resorts will do much to significantly boost Singapore’s tourism industry from 2010 onwards. We expect to report on the opening of the resort and its prospects in Q210.


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Tourist arrivals expected to increase due to integrated resorts

SINGAPORE: Tourism in Singapore is expected to experience a boom this year thanks to the opening of the integrated resorts.

Industry players say there are now over 950 travel agents in Singapore - an increase of over 100 from the previous year.

Travel agents told MediaCorp that there are now more queries on visiting Universal Studios Singapore.

Some operators are also increasing investments to expand their businesses and gain a bigger share of the tourism dollar.

The two integrated resorts are expected to bring in more tourists to Singapore in the next one to two years.

However, what is important is to entice tourists to stay one more night, which can help the tourism industry to reap more profits.

Tourists currently stay for about three nights.

"Right now, we are only getting about 10 million tourist arrivals," said Robert Khoo, chief executive officer at NATAS.

"I'm sure we can cater to a lot more. And I believe the Tourism Board has a much higher target for 2015. So I think there is still a lot of room for growth."


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Visitors try out new Singapore casino

Singapore has opened its first casino, with visitors flooding into the Sentosa island resort.

The casino welcomed its first visitors Sunday to coincide with the first day of the Lunar New Year.

As part of an effort by Singapore to increase its tourist numbers, the government approved the US$4.7 billion complex, which was built by Malaysia's Genting Group.

Sentosa island, which is visited by some five million people a year, was once a prisoner of war camp, housing Australian and British prisoners of the Japanese.

It is linked to Singapore's main island by a bridge.

The new casino complex will also house the new Universal Studios movie theme park and other five-star hotels.


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Tourist arrivals down 4.3%

THE number of visitors to Singapore fell by 4.3 per cent last year to 9.7 million, driving the revenue from the sector down 19 per cent to S$12.4 billion, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Tuesday.

The number was still slightly higher than the STB's target of 9 to 9.5 million visitors, which, analysts said, was conservative.

The tourism industry fell short of 700,000 tourists in 2008 - the first time it missed its targets since annual goals were set in 2003.

But the outlook is brightening. Tourist arrivals in December reached 971,000 - the highest monthly level ever recorded. This added to the turnaround in the last quarter of the year, said STB chief Aw Kah Peng on Tuesday.

'It is a significant drop. But if you think about how airfares and, particularly accommodation, have fallen, those categories would have contributed to more than a 20 per cent drop,' she said, citing the global recession and H1N1 flu pandemic as the main culprits. 'Therefore, immediately it has a drag on total toruism receipts. So in that sense, we are not particularly surprised that our receipts have come down.'

Ms Aw said targets for 2010 would be announced in early March.


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Singapore tourism drops 4.3 per cent, hotels take hit

Singapore - Tourist arrivals in Singapore fell 4.3 per cent in 2009 to 9.7 million, the city-state's tourism board said Tuesday. Hotels were hit hard as visitors stayed away due to the economic recession and the H1N1 flu outbreak. A strong rebound in the last quarter allowed for a "very credible" performance over the whole year, tourism board chief executive Aw Kah Peng said. Visitor arrivals for the month of December reached a record 971,000.

However, tourism receipts over the year were estimated at 12.4 billion Singapore dollars (8.7 billion US dollars), down 19 per cent from a year earlier, the board said.

Hotels were hit hard as the average room rate fell 22.3 per cent to 191 Singapore dollars. Average revenue per hotel room - including rooms that remained vacant - was down 26.6 per cent to 146 Singapore dollars in 2009.

Overall room revenue for Singapore's hotels in 2009 was 1.51 billion Singapore dollars, a slump of 28.3 per cent from a year earlier.

The tourism board is to present its forecast for 2010 in March, Aw said, adding that "we expect the growth momentum from the last quarter 2009 to continue."

Hopes are riding on two new multibillion-dollar casino resorts, designed to attract visitors from across the Asia-Pacific region, to restore the fortunes of Singapore's ailing tourism industry.

Resorts World Sentosa, which includes South-East Asia's first Universal Studios theme park, has already opened some of its hotels and received the gambling licence for its casino last weekend.

Marina Bay Sands, located in the heart of the financial district, is slated to open in April at the earliest.

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308233,singapore-tourism-drops-43-per-cent-hotels-take-hit.html#ixzz0fgfRcRMS


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Singapore Joins Outcry at Indonesian Tourist Visa Changes

A senior immigration department official said on Sunday that it would re-evaluate the government’s decision in January to scrap the one-week tourist visa, following an outcry by foreign tour agents who market packages for Batam and Bintan islands.

On January 25, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights announced that the $10 visa on arrival for foreigners staying in Indonesia for a week or less would no longer be issued, and immigration officials would only issue a 30-day visa for $25.

But the issue has sparked such controversy in Singapore that on Sunday the Straits Times reported it was causing panic among travel agents there, and in Taiwan, who had already sold short-stay packages to Batam and Bintan islands in Riau and would have to pay the difference in price out of their own pockets.

“We’ve heard [a rumor] about a contract between Riau Governor [Ismeth Abdullah] and Singapore to pay only $10 for a visa on arrival, but this is a national policy and other areas such as Bali and Manado don’t seem to be bothered with this,” said Maroloan Barimbing, spokesman for the Justice Ministry’s Directorate General of Immigration.

“They even consider it to be a great opportunity for tourists to explore more sites in the country.”

Maroloan said the Directorate General for Immigration would now spend up to three months comparing arrival figures in Batam and Bintan for Singaporeans visiting Indonesia, expatriates working in Singapore coming to visit and foreign tourists stopping by for one or two days before continuing on to Singapore.

He said one solution for frequent visitors would be to buy a $100 multiple-entry tourist visa, which is already available.

Asad Shiraz, director of marketing for Bintan Resorts, who is based in Singapore, told the Straits Times that last year 90 percent of its 410,000 guests stayed less than a week and used the $10 visa.

Andrew Dixon, an owner of the Niko Island Resort off Bintan, told the Straits Times that many foreign visitors to Riau Islands only went there for a day to play golf. “It will increase the cost of a visit for a family of four by $60,” he said. “The weekend travel market is already price sensitive as it competes with Malaysia.

The Justice Ministry claimed scrapping the 7-day visa would encourage tourists to stay longer and curb graft among immigration officials who were issuing 7-day visas when asked for 30-day visas and pocketing the difference.

But tourism analysts decried the move, saying it would hurt visitor numbers, and even the Ministry of Culture and Tourism took the unusual step of publicly saying it would try to make immigration officials reconsider.

On Sunday, however, Surya Dharma, a Tourism Ministry spokesman, took a softer line, calling the reaction from tour operators and the Riau Islands government a “temporary shock.”

“This is a national policy, but, if we’re losing tourists from this policy, then the government will try to find a solution to work it out,” he said, “either reviewing the policy or making additional policies.”

But the Straits Times quoted an immigration official as saying that any reversion to 7-day visas would be only for up to a few months to ease the shock of their withdrawal.


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Singapore Tourism Emerges With Integrated Resorts

SINGAPORE — Singapore has been missing that "certain something" as a tourist destination. Now, finally, it may have the answer in two integrated casino-resorts-the recently opened US$4.4 billion Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) from Malaysian gaming giant Genting Group and the US$5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands (MBS) now slated for a late-April opening.

The Sands project reportedly was nearing default late last year, but Las Vegas Sands Corp. raised US$2.1 billion in a bond sale to complete the project.

The two resorts-with government regulations allotting less than 5% of their space for gaming-reflects an attempt to diversify Singapore's tourism base to compete more effectively with neighboring countries. But whether or not Singapore can compete with Macau or become the Las Vegas of Southeast Asia might depend on how consumers react to the expected imposition of restrictions in the form of a S$2,000 (US$1,440) annual fee or S$100 entry fee, as well as stringent rules for traditional gambling junkets to deter money laundering.

However, the two resorts are expected to contribute about 1% to 2% of Singapore's gross domestic product, help the country achieve visitor arrival goals of 17 million by 2015 (10 million in 2008) and eventually add 35,000 jobs to the economy. The government hopes to boost tourism earning to S$30 billion (US$21.5 billion) by 2015-tripling current figures.

While neither RWS nor MBS executives would offer any revenue projections, reports have MBS with net profits of between S$800 million and S$1 billion next year, with the smaller Sentosa project netting S$750 million. Analysts say 70% to 80% of revenues initially will come from gaming, sliding back to 50% to 60% once all the other attractions are open.

Robert Hecker, Singapore-based managing director for Horwath Asia Pacific, says the timing of these projects is right for the region's rebounding markets and will help drive incremental business to the rest of the market.

The Missing Link
RWS's four hotels-Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Crockfords Tower and Hotel Michael-and shop outlets on Sentosa Island opened January 20, offering a combined inventory of 1,350 rooms and 10 restaurants. Another two hotels, Equarius Hotel and Spa Villas, will add another 500 rooms when they launch after 2010. Initial reports showed all four hotels fully booked with very limited availability in March and April. "Our first weekend that was opened to the public saw us hit more than 90% in room occupancy with Festive and Hard Rock Hotels fully booked," says Robin Goh, assistant director of communications.

The sprawling 49-ha (121-acre) resort designed by Michael Graves on an island a quarter-mile off the coast plans to open its casino February 14. The other main attraction—Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park—is also expected to open within the first quarter. Built in less than three years, RWS is targeting a wider family-focused audience with its theme park and the world's largest marine life park, scheduled for 2011. In addition, RWS will also include 26 function rooms, a 1,600-seat theater and a destination spa. The strong F&B component, when fully operational, is expected to serve 25,000 to 30,000 meals a day, and 40,000 meals on weekends.

RWS Chief Executive Officer Tan Hee Teck has been quoted as saying he expects 60% of Sentosa visitors to be foreigners, of whom 20% to 25% would be from China. In addition, initial MICE business looks very positive, with 33 conferences booked so far this year, no doubt taking advantage of the 6,300-seat ballroom.

Hecker says having a branded theme park as well as integration of highly marketable attractions-as opposed to how disparate and non-integrated Sentosa has been in the past-makes it the "missing link" in Singapore's tourism offering. "Throw in the casinos to help ‘subsidize' such major tourist and visitor attractions and you have a clear win-win scenario. The only real issue I can foresee is access and crowd management, particularly for Resorts World."

Icon Status
With more than 1,300 team members already on board, MBS in late April will open the first phase, including nearly 1,000 hotel rooms, part of the shopping mall and convention center, the first three celebrity chef restaurants and other dining, as well as the casino, according to CEO and President Thomas Arasi. The second phase-which includes the Sands SkyPark sitting on the 57th story of the signature-curved three hotel towers, the Event Plaza along Marina Bay and more shops and restaurants-will open in the summer. Theaters and the museum will open later in the year.

"You can't beat the location of Marina Bay-prime city center for a convention-fueled destination," Hecker says. "It's iconic and will be perceived and realized as a must-visit property on an international level."

Arasi says the curves of the Marina Bay Sands hotel towers are "spectacular, both visually and from an engineering perspective." Those same towers have also been the source of engineering challenges, as has been reclaiming land from the sea for the 120,000-sq.-m (1.3 million-sq.-ft.) convention center, which has pushed back the opening to April.

The sloping towers and the straight legs were constructed as two separate buildings. "We used steel link trusses to connect the two structures at level 23 to form one building," Arasi says. "The link trusses helped to transfer the weight from the sloping legs to the stronger legs. We built one hotel floor every four days-an unprecedented feat for a project of this scale. The building is already an icon redefining the Singapore skyline."

The 7,000-tonne (15.4 million-pound) steel structure of the Sands SkyPark took 14 heavy lifts to place. "We have fitted out the hotel rooms up to about the 22nd floor, we are working on the interiors of the convention center and the casino, and we completed the chandelier in the casino. The event plaza along Marina Bay is almost complete. It's really exciting to see this come together," Arasi says.

To drive business, Arasi says MBS already has a strong lineup of events for the Sands Expo and Convention Centre that will bring more than 150,000 attendees to the integrated resort beginning this year. Among many events, the resort is hosting the 2010 UFI Congress, which is coming back to Singapore after a 15-year absence. "The diversity of trade shows and conferences in Marina Bay Sands is a strong sign of support for us and for Singapore," Arasi adds.

Arasi says his sales team is also working closely with the Singapore Tourism Board on joint marketing activities. "We have built up our sales network in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India, as well as in Europe and the Americas," Arasi says. "In terms of geographical mix, we are targeting the markets of Southeast Asia, China, India, Middle East and Russia, as well as the U.S. and Europe."


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Singapore Opens 1st Casino in Bid to Become Tourist Hub

Singapore has opened its first casino, part of a campaign by the city-state to transform itself into a tourist hub and reduce its reliance on manufacturing.

The Resorts World Sentosa casino welcomed its first visitors Sunday, an auspicious date that coincides with the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The casino is part of a $4.7 billion complex built by Malaysia's Genting Group on Sentosa island, an islet linked to Singapore's main island by a bridge. The complex also houses a new Universal Studios movie theme park and high-end hotels.

Singapore is trying to broaden its appeal to tourists and become more of a services-based economy, while shifting away from manufacturing work that its Asian neighbors can do more cheaply.

Some Singaporeans have expressed concern that promoting gambling could undermine the city-state's values and encourage money-laundering.

The government has tried to address those concerns by imposing a $70 fee on Singaporeans entering the casino to try to dissuade them from becoming addicted. The fee does not apply to foreign visitors. Singapore also has banned anyone declared bankrupt from using the casino.

The city-state plans to open a second casino, built by U.S. company Las Vegas Sands, in the coming months. The government estimates the casinos will boost Singapore's gross domestic product growth by up to one percentage point in the coming years.


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Lucy Ong appointed as Tourism WA's Marketing Manager for Singapore & Malaysia

Tourism Western Australia’s marketing representation agency in Singapore and Malaysia, Xzodus, has appointed Ms Lucy Ong to the role of Marketing Manager – Singapore and Malaysia.

No stranger to the travel trade, Lucy was the Regional Marketing Manager – South East Asia for VisitBritain (formerly British Tourist Authority) for 11 years before leaving the industry in 2007 for a temporary family relocation to the USA.

During her time with Visit Britain, she played a key role in raising the profile of Britain through comprehensive joint marketing and training programs with the trade and media as well as undertaking research on the needs of the SE Asian travellers into Britain. She was also responsible for organising Destination Britain, a major trade event attracting over 200 Asia Pacific buyers and US sellers.

In addition, she played a key role in winning a Marketing award for the Singapore office for the Shop-Till-You-Drop campaign ran in conjunction with Maison de la France.

A graduate from the National University of Singapore in Business Administration, Lucy will be responsible for the overall management of TWA’s marketing activities in the Singapore and Malaysia markets. She joins the Xzodus team of Senior Consultants, Lee Ee Lian and Selena Oh, Marketing Executives Anne Chen (Singapore) and Jenny Chan (Malaysia), who work on the Tourism WA account.


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Singapore Tourism Report Q1 2010 - New Market Report Published

LONDON, ENGLAND

Singapore's tourism industry experienced a difficult H109 Visitor arrivals were down by 11.5%, to just 4.51mn in January-June. The Singapore Tourist Board (STB) attributed the poor performance primarily to the global economic crisis, but arrivals from North Asia were also reduced due to the effects of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) pandemic.

From the halfway point of the year, tourist arrivals resumed an upwards trend. In December 2009, the STB said visitor arrivals stood at 8.71mn for January-November. Strong increases were recorded in arrivals from Indonesia, Malaysia and China over October and November. That said, we believe the most likely outcome for the year as a whole is a slight fall in arrivals from 2008's 10.12mn arrivals, mainly as a result of the very poor first half.

...But The Longer-Term Prognosis Remains Positive
Although 2009 was difficult for the Singaporean tourism industry, there are reasons to be positive about the medium-to-long term as the global economy recovers. In particular, the opening of the two integrated resorts, at Marina Bay and Sentosa, in 2010 should help the island attract new tourists. Also in 2010, Singapore will host the first Youth Olympics and open the International Cruise Terminal.

Tiger Airways Announces IPO

In January 2010, Singapore's Tiger Airways unveiled its long awaited initial public offering (IPO) of stock in the company. The airline hopes to raise SGD273mn via the IPO, which it will use to fund aircraft purchases and pay down debt.

Some media reports said Tiger Airways had initially hoped to raise more money via the IPO, but an uncertain outlook for global investment markets and the challenging outlook for the airline industry may have both played a part in the downsizing of the offer.

Integrated Resorts

Opening Soon Four of the new hotels at the Sentosa integrated resort - Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore -start phased opening in late January 2010. The other two hotels at the resort are the Equarius Hotel and Spa Villas. Bookings for the hotels opened in H209. Other attractions at Sentosa will include a Universal Studios theme park, a casino and the world's largest oceanarium. We believe Sentosa and other new resorts will do much to significantly boost Singapore's tourism industry from 2010 onwards. We expect to report on the opening of the resort and its prospects in Q210.


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Attractions —Lim Sue Goan

JAN 21 — It was a good day for Singapore when thousands of guests flocked to the Lion City on Jan 20. On the contrary, no one came to Johor Bahru, or even the whole of Malaysia.

When the United States issued a travel warning about possible terror threats in Sabah, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore’s first casino-resort, opened four hotels at 8.18am and the over 5,000 rooms were fully booked on the first night. Its prosperity was conceivable.

After the opening of the casino and the Universal Studios theme park, Singapore is expected to attract 13 million tourists annually. In addition to Resorts World Sentosa, The Marina Bay Sands, built by Las Vegas Sands, will also be opened in April this year. After the opening of the two integrated resorts, Singapore may achieve the goal of attracting 17 million of tourists yearly in 2015.

When they have their own casinos, will Singaporean gamblers still travel along the way to Genting Highlands? Tourists from China are very likely to shift their targets, too. I’m afraid that businesses in Johor Bahru would as well be affected.

What countermeasures will Malaysia take to meet Singapore’s measures to attract tourists? Other than the theme parks, including Legoland Malaysia, in the Iskandar Special Economic Zone, Malaysia does not seem to have other new tourist attractions. Legoland is scheduled to be completed and opened to the public in April 2012 while the indoor theme park will be opened in 2013.

The Tourism Ministry should introduce new tourism packages in this two-year time before the theme parks are opened to the public to attract foreign tourists to come over on their way to Singapore’s casinos and theme parks.

The competition in the tourism industry will become more intense in the future. For example, South Korea recently announced to spend about US$3 billion (RM10.2 billion) to build the largest theme park in Asia, which covers 435 hectares. In addition to a Universal Studios theme park, there will be a water park, golf courses and resorts. It is expected to be opened in 2014 and it targets rich tourists from China. The government should wake up now as it can no longer indulge in last year’s statistics, which indicated a 7.6 per cent increase of tourist arrivals.

From Singapore’s tourism strategy, we can see the determination and vision of the Singapore government to actively revive and diversify its economy, as well as to look for new growth areas. We cannot help but worry over the Malaysian economy that has turned into dead waters.

After it separated from Malaysia, Singapore developed into a port and subsequently, it developed its financial and services industries, pharmaceutical industry, casinos and integrated resorts. This has fully reflected its pragmatism and flexibility. Malaysia is lagging far behind.

Since independence, Malaysia has always been relying on petroleum and palm oil. It does not succeed in developing multimedia information technology while its services industry is not open enough. It loses talents and fails to attract more foreign investors. When would the economy be transformed?

Today, Genting Bhd has transferred its capital and talents to Singapore and at the same time, it aims for investment opportunities in the United States. But Malaysian politicians are still quarreling over the issue of selling sand to Singapore. Why can’t they sit down and study how should they face the challenges from Singapore?

The outside world has been rapidly changing but we are still fighting over the “Allah” controversy. If our mindset remains unchanged, there will be no transformation for the country, the government, as well as the economy.


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Singaporean tourist found dead in KL budget hotel

Malaysian police broke down a bathroom door to find a dead man in a budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He was found in a sitting position on the toilet bowl.

The hotel is in Jalan Sultan in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Police told Bernama that the 48-year-old man, a tourist from Singapore, arrived in Malaysia on January 16.

At noon yesterday, a cleaner reported a foul smell from one of the bathrooms. Hotel staff called the police.

Officers called to the scene pried open the bathroom door, which was locked from inside.

They found a dead man in a seated posture on the toilet bowl, along with remnants of burnt charcoal.

As the windows and door were sealed, the man was suspected to have died from suffocation caused by the inhalation of the fumes emitted by the burning charcoal, said KL police.

The Singaporean was estimated to have been dead for 48 hours before he was discovered.

Police have classified the case under sudden death and the body has been sent to the Kuala Lumpur hospital for an autopsy.


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Singapore's first casino set for partial opening

Singapore's first casino-resort is set to partially open Wednesday, a key part of a government plan to reduce reliance on manufacturing and brand the tightly controlled city-state as a cosmopolitan Asian capital.

Resorts World Sentosa, built by Malaysia's Genting Bhd for 6.6 billion Singapore dollars ($5 billion), will open 1,340 rooms in four hotels, including a Hard Rock hotel and a property designed by architect Michael Graves.

A Universal Studios theme park will likely open next month on the sprawling 49-hectare complex on Sentosa, an island a quarter of a mile off Singapore's coast.

The resort's casino, the city-state's first, is expected to open in March after Genting's application for a license was delayed to December from October when gambling authorities asked for more information. Officials have said it will probably take three months to process the license.

Singapore -- known for its ban on chewing gum sales and canings for crimes some countries would rule as minor -- strictly controls public speech and assembly though has become socially more liberal and allowed greater artistic freedom in recent years. The decision to allow casinos followed a rare national debate though the government's desired outcome was never in doubt.

The government expects Resorts World -- along with the expected May opening of the Marina Bay Sands casino resort -- to increase the country's gross domestic product growth growth by up to 1 percentage point, boost tourist arrivals and add 35,000 jobs.

With a well-educated population that speaks English, Chinese and Malay, Singapore is increasingly focusing on finance and tourism, said Irvin Seah, an economist with DBS Bank in Singapore.

"Services are really a green pasture going forward for Singapore," Seah said. "It's the area which we really want to fully exploit and it's where we have a comparative advantage in the region."

Manufacturing, which has long dominated the economy, has been slowly leaving the country as companies seek cheaper labor costs in regional neighbors such as China and Vietnam.

"Competitors are catching up very quickly," Seah said. "In some segments of the manufacturing sector, we are certainly fighting a losing battle."


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Accor Hotels in Singapore Extend Explore Singapore Promotion Due to Overwhelming Response

Take advantage of the extended period of 'Explore Singapore' promotion with free City Tour, Internet Access and Buffet Breakfast included at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay and ibis Singapore on Bencoolen.

Singapore (PRWEB) January 14, 2010 -- Accor Hotels in Singapore - a European leader in hotels and tourism, extends the ongoing 'Explore Singapore' promotion to March, 31 2010 for stays until 30 April 2010. Starting from SGD143++ (USD105++), the promotion offers quality accommodations at great locations in Singapore and additional benefits including free buffet breakfast, 1-day unlimited open-top bus city tour, unlimited Internet access and much more.

Due to popular demand, Accor's Explore Singapore promotion has been extended. The campaign, which involves all Accor hotels in Singapore including Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay and ibis Singapore on Bencoolen, have generated significant interest among both leisure and corporate travelers visiting Singapore. Over 4,000 room nights have already been booked in less than a month promotion period and the bookings are still growing.

Visitors staying at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay and ibis Singapore on Bencoolen under the Explore Singapore promotion will enjoy great benefits with room rate starting from SGD143++ (USD105++) a night, inclusive of free city tour, buffet breakfast and unlimited Internet access.

Incorporating a special complimentary one-day unlimited open-top bus city tour, guests taking advantage of the Explore Singapore promotion will have a chance to experience more than 20 tourist attractions at the leisure of your own pace. Visit popular places like Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, Chjimes, Merlion Park, Orchard Road, River Cruise, Singapore Flyer and etc. with accompanied tour guide who will ensure hopping on and off the bus is a delightful adventure.

EXPLORE SINGAPORE Promotion also includes:


* One night stay at your choice of hotels
* Daily buffet breakfast
* One-day unlimited city tour
* Free internet access
* Enjoy original authentic bumboat ride for only just S$8 (Usual Price: S$13)
* 10% discount for Singapore Flyer ticket
* Free drink at Hard Rock Café + discounted coupon
* Free drink at Manchester United Café Bar in Boat Quay


Select your choice of hotels:


* Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore from SGD148++ (USD109++), the hotel also provides complimentary airport transfer.
* Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay from SGD188++ (USD138++), the hotel is strategically located in the heart of the city.
* ibis Singapore on Bencoolen from SGD143++ (USD105++), the hotel is recently voted the ‘Best Budget Hotel 2009' by TTG.


This offer is valid for stays from now to 30 April 2010, perfect for both leisure and business travelers visiting Singapore for Asian Sports Hub & Tourism Conference, Singapore Air Show and experience Chinese New Year in Singapore. Take advantage of this offer and book online at "www.explore-singapore.com.sg" before 31 March 2010.

Terms and Conditions apply. Promotion offer is subject to room availability and may not be available during hotel's peak periods. Price shown may differ due to daily currency exchange rate.

About Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore
Grand Mercure Roxy is an ideal hotel for a business trip or holiday in Singapore. Amidst the heritage charms of historic Katong, the hotel enjoys easy access to the city centre, Singapore Expo, the Suntec Convention Centre and Orchard Road. Enjoy fantastic shopping at the nearby Parkway Parade or a great day out at East Coast Park with beaches, recreational facilities and renowned seafood restaurants. 15 minutes from Changi Airport with complimentary shuttle service.

About Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
Located in the vibrant and dynamic Clarke Quay area, Novotel Clarke Quay is well known for its breath-taking view of the Singapore River. The hotel is minutes away from the Central Business District and shopping malls with easily accessible public transports reaching out to other parts of Singapore. Featuring 401 recently renovated rooms and modern amenities, this 4-star hotel is a perfect choice for both leisure and business travelers.

About ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
Easily reached by public transportation, ibis on Bencoolen is conveniently located within the cultural, shopping and business districts. Don't be misled by the price tag, the hotel is the premier choice among budget conscious travelers who still demand international service standards.

About Accor
Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core businesses:

- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre;

- Services, with 30 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in employee and public benefits, rewards and loyalty, and expense management.


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Singapore to help boost eco-tourism in Johor

SINGAPORE, Jan 8 — Singapore is lending Malaysia its expertise in developing green reserves for eco-tourism.

The tourism agencies of both countries have started a joint feasibility study to look into how an attraction like Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Kranji can be replicated across the Causeway.

The areas that Malaysia hopes to develop into tourism spots are all in Johor — Sungai Pulai, Tanjung Piai and Pulau Kukup.

All have been classified as Ramsar sites, a title granted by the Geneva-based Ramsar Convention Bureau to identify wetlands of international importance.

Johor's lush Sungai Pulai alone spans 9ha. Officially gazetted in 1923, it is the country's second-largest mangrove forest.

It sits at the mouth of a lowland tropical river basin, and is home to seagrass beds, intertidal mudflats and an inland freshwater riverine forest, which teem with animal life.

The joint feasibility study, expected to be completed this year, is the first such venture into the tourism sector.

It will identify appropriate activities for visitors and the kind of people likely to go there, as well as explore the adoption of a code of management practices.

The first mention of the collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia in this area came from Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan last year, when he gave an update on Singapore's involvement in Iskandar Malaysia, a project to develop southern Johor's economic corridor.

Collaborations between the two countries in this economic zone come under a joint ministerial committee.

Mah added that the two sides' environment agencies are also sharing expertise in areas such as river cleaning.

Malaysia's senior regional government officials have been quoted in the media as having said that the move to develop Sungai Pulai is in line with the plan to build a viable tourist hot spot there.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman told the New Straits Times: “Together with the rapid development in Iskandar Malaysia, the state aims to preserve its natural beauty and carry out sustainable development.”

When contacted, John Conceicao, director of strategic planning and innovation at the Singapore Tourism Board, said it was working with its Malaysian counterpart on developing joint marketing campaigns for the nature sites “to potentially increase tourism flows into and between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore”.

Professor Leo Tan, director of special projects at the National University of Singapore, said that if the findings of the study are followed through and adopted, the area's vital eco-system could be preserved.

Pointing to Sungei Buloh here, he said that it had, with proper management, “morphed out of what was nothing more than a dilapidated prawn pond”.

He added: “The key for any country lies in optimising its resources in a rational and educated manner... to develop an appreciation and understanding of why we need to protect our biodiversity.” — The Straits Times


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Seoul becoming more multi-lingual to entice tourists

SEOUL: The craze over Korean pop culture in recent years has turned Seoul into one of Asia's top travel spots.

With a better global economic outlook, the South Korean capital is expecting another bumper year in visitor numbers in 2010.

However, with competition coming from other cities, Seoul is not resting on its laurels. Instead, the city is going the extra mile to make foreigners feel at home.

The subway ticket vending machines in Seoul are mutli-lingual wonders that "speak" in four languages - English, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.

"I find the subway is easy to get around," said a Canadian visitor. "Once you are up the subway, there're always signs pointing you to the right direction. It's really great."

Street signs with English translation are seen everywhere, while information centres in many parts of the city are manned by multi-lingual staff.

But while Seoul has come a long way in transforming itself into a global metropolis, many foreigners still find it a challenge to get around the city.

"If you go into a store and you want to ask for information, they don't really understand you, so they'll speak to you in Korean and you'll speak to them in English, so it's a bit of a problem because you don't really get what you want out of your shopping experience," said a tourist.

One of the biggest problems for foreign visitors travelling in Seoul is the language barrier. Hence, tackling this issue has become the top priority for the Seoul government.

With its hi-tech society and well-educated population, there is no surprise that officials are turning to new technology to better serve travellers in 2010.

"When (tourists) land in Incheon International Airport or Gimpo Airport, they can get a gadget free of charge," said Samuel Koo, chief executive officer of Seoul Tourism Organisation. "The device has several functions rolled into one. It's a walking navigation, so it'll show streets where ever you may go."

Beyond the official domain, many shops across the city are also doing their bit to keep up - by training their service personnel to speak in other languages.

"At Dongdaemum Market, there are a growing number of foreign customers, especially from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore," said An Myong Hun, a sales assistant at Nalgae and Gomangi.

"In order to cater to such customers, we have one employee who can speak English, and one who can speak Japanese at this very shop. Many employees at Dongdaemum Market are learning foreign languages for the same reason."

With many Asian cities competing for the tourism dollar, officials know that Seoul must constantly update itself to attract visitors.


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Phuket tourism in high gear with last-minute bookings

PHUKET: For the last few weeks, a steady rise in the island’s hotel reservations indicate a strong start for the 2010 tourism season.

According to the Phuket Tourist Association, which since 1980 began monitoring information and trends for the island tourism industry, hotel bookings have increased considerably compared with the same period last year.

According to Phuket Tourist Association president Somboon Jirayut, between the last week of December 2009 and the beginning of January, vacation rentals and hotel room reservations increased, with up to 90 percent of those reservations being last-minute bookings.

“With the high season just beginning, but already breaking records, the island’s hospitality business is encouraged. Many post-tsunami factors are contributing to increased tourism and luckily, Thailand's political climate has remained stable following the 2008 anti-government protests,” Mr Somboon said.

Mr Somboon added that additional flights to Phuket from Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore were a significant factor in the increase of tourists.

“Over the last year tourists’ behaviors have changed. In the past, most tourists made their vacation reservations at least one-year in advance. These days, however, most visitors book their rooms closer to their projected travel dates or even at the last minute,” he concluded.


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New GM at Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines the world's premier airline, has appointed Mr. Melvin NG as the General Manager for Sri Lanka. Mr. Melvin NG joined Singapore Airlines in the year 2002, and was involved in the Head Office Sales and Marketing Division for a period of five years. Later he was posted to the Singapore Airlines regional office located in Beijing, where he provided his services as the Regional Marketing Manager. He later served as the Manager for Northern China also in Beijing for a short period before being posted to Singapore Airlines in Colombo as the General Manager for Sri Lanka.

When asked as to how he plans to promote Sri Lanka, through Singapore Airlines Mr. Melvin said, "Sri Lanka is still a relatively unknown and unexplored destination amongst a majority of the international general public. However Sri Lanka is well known to many of the experienced international travelers mostly due to its scenic beauty and popular destinations. We have been working on promoting inbound tourism, focusing on markets such as China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Australia."

According to Mr. Melvin the travel industry in Sri Lanka in the future will be experiencing good times ahead with peace finally dawning and the environment becoming more conducive for international travel. This will also greatly benefit and boost the country's inbound travel industry as Sri Lanka has unlimited resources that have yet been untapped with regards to tourism and Singapore Airlines is currently working closely with the Sri Lankan Tourist Board in this regard. Outbound travel too is expected to increase significantly with effect from next year and many companies which cutback on their expenses due to the economic recession and the country's ongoing war are now optimistic that major industrial improvements will take place and that the travel industry will be in the forefront of many of these developments.

Speaking on their future plans Mr. Melvin said, "With the very much anticipated boom in tourism, we plan to reinstate daily frequency between Colombo and Singapore from the current 5x weekly flights, in April next year."


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Singapore tourist arrivals increase

Singapore - Visitor arrivals to Singapore in November registered their highest growth for the year, increasing by 8.4 per cent year-on-year to 830,000 visitors. Visitors from Malaysia increased by 36.8 per cent, Germany 21.7 per cent, Australia 13.8 per cent, Vietnam 12.4 per cent, the United States 11.6 per cent and the Philippines 10.5 per cent, the Singapore Tourism Board said in a statement on Monday.

Visitor days saw their first year-on-year growth for the year in November, increasing by 0.7 per cent to 3.1 million days.

The top tourist generating markets were Indonesia with 143,000 visitors, China (90,000), Malaysia (83,000), Australia (69,000), and India (50,000). These five markets accounted for 52 per cent of the total visitors in November.

The November average hotel room occupancy rate was 84.3 per cent, up by 3.8 per cent from a year ago.

The November average room rate was estimated at 198 Singapore dollars, a decline of 15.1 per cent from November 2008, it said, adding that hotel room revenue dropped by 9.8 per cent year on year to 148 million Singapore dollars for November 2009.


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Singapore's economy likely to be buoyed by global recovery in 2010

SINGAPORE: Singapore's economy is expected to revert to positive growth next year, thanks to the global recovery.

According to some economists, growth could even surpass the government's estimates for 2010. They are looking at GDP growth of more than 5 per cent, compared to the government's current forecast of a 3 to 5 per cent growth.

This follows 2009's roller coaster ride, where the economy took a beating in the early part of the year before recovering in the second half.

Export-dependent Singapore was among the first in Asia to fall into recession towards the end of 2008. The economy contracted by 14.6 per cent on-quarter in the first quarter of 2009, following a decline of 16.4 per cent in the previous three months. Then it took a sharp turn upwards, catching the markets by surprise.

David Cohen, director of Asian economic forecasting, Action Economics, said: "The rebound has been better than expected. The strong growth in the second and third quarter GDP in Singapore was better, at a double-digit quarter-on-quarter annualised rate.

"It was a reflection of the turnaround. It was more or less in line with the pattern around the region where many of the Asian exporting economies, after the sharp fall-off in their production and exports in the beginning of the year, rebounded as global demand started to recover."

Song Seng Wun, CEO & regional economist, CIMB-GK Research, said: "After a fairly weak start to the year in the aftermath of the collapse of global demand, we saw things improving in subsequent quarters...

"Aggressive intervention by the Singapore government and others around the world stabilised an uncertain environment. When you have heavy government intervention in the economy, it gives confidence back to businesses and consumers as well."

While the outlook for 2010 appears to be brightening, some said much depends on the United States and when global central banks will cut liquidity.

"Which is why there is much debate on whether governments should withdraw liquidity, withdraw from the economy. It's probably a bit premature. The risk really is that the number one engine, the US, continues to see patchy recovery," said Mr Song.

Sector-wise, manufacturing was the worst hit by the downturn in 2009, but it is looking up.

The manufacturing sector, which accounts for about a quarter of the country's GDP, is expected to grow by about 8 per cent in the fourth quarter this year, after a surprise rebound in the third quarter. This performance is expected to continue into 2010.

Mr Cohen said: "Assuming the global economy remains on recovery trajectory, that should support continued recovery in manufacturing sector and this, including the electronics sector globally, should turn around.

"Perhaps Singapore will still be feeling some drag from the closing of some disk drive production sites, but that should be balanced by the continued uptrend in the pharmaceutical area, where Singapore continues to enjoy an expansion in the global industry that is expected to continue into next year."

Meanwhile, all eyes will also be on the much-anticipated opening of Singapore's two integrated resorts. They are expected to add about 0.5 per cent to GDP growth next year, through a boost to tourist arrivals and retail sales.


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