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
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment