Singapore ready for APEC meetings

SINGAPORE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singapore has been ready for the APEC Leaders' Week meetings, which are to be kicked off Sunday with the opening of the Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting.

Around 10,000 delegates, media persons and visitors, including 21 leaders and 63 ministers from the 21 APEC member economies, are arriving in the country. The city's hotels are hustling and bustling for welcoming guests from around the Asia-Pacific regions, with some providing a welcome drink -- a specially concocted APEC cocktail -- to new arrivals.

Those staying at The Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford, two designated hotels by the APEC organizing committee, were expected to receive special welcome amenities like APEC souvenirs and a range of gifts and services.

Trainings in service and languages for employees were also provided by hotels to cater to the needs of visitors from around the world.

Local restaurants, already renowned for its fusion meals, came in with new ideas. An APEC-themed menu at O'Leary's, which is a restaurant at the city's iconic attraction Singapore Flyer, included an "Obama burger" in recognition of the U.S. President Barack Obama who will be in town for the Summit.

APEC delegates could also have the chance to taste the country's signature cocktail -- the Singapore Sling, all in celebration of the grouping's 20th anniversary.

The streets of Orchard Road, the main shopping area, and the Marina Bay area, where main tourist attractions were located, lit up for eight weeks as of Saturday, in time for visiting APEC delegates.

Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong called on the Singaporeans to become hospitable hosts for the event.

"Whether you are a taxi driver, whether you a staff in a hotel, whether you are asked for directions in the street, or whether you are just going about your business and inconvenienced because the APEC convoy has zoomed by and (caused) a traffic jam, please do your part and show them what Singapore can do," he said at an earlier press conference.

About 1,700 volunteers were chosen out of some 3,000 applicants and would be assigned to cover a wide range of duties, including receiving delegates at the airport and tending to the information booths located at various hotels.

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Wildlife Reserves Singapore looks at aggressively promoting itself in the Indian market

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) which owns and operates Jorong BirdPark, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo is now promoting itself in the Indian market to increase Indian visitor arrivals. WRS is currently working closely with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in India and is expanding its sales team operations in the country. It will soon undertake marketing and promotional efforts in India and also develop more programmes and menus catering to the Indian travellers needs.

Talking about the potential of Indian market, Isabel Cheng, Director – Sales, Marketing and Communications, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said, “Being a part of the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) sector poised for immense growth, India will become more affluent and Singapore will be a key destination. Based on the data we have, the Indian market is important for us and we look forward to increasing numbers by creating top of mind recall and awareness of WRS among Indian travellers.” Cheng added, “Our sales team has started making forays into the Indian market and it has definitely paid dividends, as Indian visitors already make up about 20 per cent of all arrivals to all the three zoos. We will dedicate more resources to build the Indian market and will work even more closely with the Singapore Tourism Board in India to reach more Indian visitors.”

The Jurong Bird Park is dedicated to more than 600 species of birds numbering 8,000 and received nine lakh visitors last year. Night Safari is an internationally acclaimed world's first wildlife park for nocturnal animals and received 1.1 million visitors last year. The Singapore Zoo is home to over 2,500 creatures of 315 species, and is world famous for its 'open concept.' It received 1.6 million visitors from across the globe in 2008. Cheng said, “We hope that Indian visitors will be able to make a trip to all three parks which are thematically different from each other. Currently, at Jorong Bird Park and the Night Safari, Indian visitors are in our top tourist profiles.”

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Visitor Arrivals In Singapore Were Down By 11.5%, To Just 4.51mn In January To June 2009

Short-Term Outlook Negative… Singapore’s tourism industry experienced a difficult first half to 2009. 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 with arrivals from China and Japan also reduced due to the effects of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic.

Over the first six months of 2009, Singapore’s top five visitor-generating markets were Indonesia (766,000), China (457,000), Australia (376,000), India (361,000) and Malaysia (317,000), accounting for over 50% of the total. Vietnam (up 13.4%), the Philippines (up 3%), Malaysia (up 1.8%) and Germany (up 1.3%) were the fastest growing source markets in H109, which the STB attributed to strong marketing campaigns and, in the case of Vietnam, aggressive airline promotions.

Given this disappointing start to the year, we have made downward revisions to our forecasts for arrivals data this year. From a previous forecast of 9.9mn visitors, we now believe that 9.12mn is more likely.

…But Longer-Term Prognosis Remains Positive Although 2009 will be difficult for Singapore’s tourism industry, there are reasons to remain positive for the medium-to-long term, as the global economy recovers. In particular, the opening of the two integrated resorts, at Marina Bay in 2009 and Sentosa in 2010, should help the island attract new tourists. Also, in 2011 Singapore will host the first Youth Olympics and open a new International Cruise Terminal.

Integrated Resorts Opening Soon In June, the first details surrounding some of the hotel rooms on offer at the new SGD6.59bn Sentosa integrated resort were unveiled. Showrooms for the Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore were opened for public viewing. The 120-room Maxims Tower and 470- room Hotel Michael are both pitched at the luxury end of the market. The 398-room Festive Hotel is pitched at the family market, with brightly coloured décor and loft sleeping areas in the bedrooms for children. The 364-room Hard Rock Hotel Singapore is pitched at the young adult market. 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. BMI believes this and other new resorts will do much to significantly boost Singapore’s tourism industry from 2010 onwards.

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Singapore tourist arrivals rise 7.1 percent in September, first increase in 2009

SINGAPORE — Singapore tourist arrivals rose in September for the first time this year, boosted by holidays in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

Singapore received 799,000 tourists last month, up 7.1 percent from last year, the Singapore Tourism Board said Tuesday. Arrivals fell 5.3 percent from August, the board said.

Arrivals from Indonesia — Singapore's biggest source of tourists — jumped 51 percent and those from Malaysia increased 27 percent as the Hari Raya holidays fell in September this year and October last year.

Singapore hosted its second Formula One Grand Prix race in September, the only night race on the tour.

Singapore's economy, which relies on trade, finance and tourism, emerged from recession in the third quarter. The government expects the economy to shrink up to 2.5 percent this year after growing 1.1 percent last year.

Hotel revenue fell 28 percent to $140 million Singapore dollars ($100 million) in September as hotels slashed room rates 31 percent to attract customers, the board said.

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Dubai-Singapore cruise launch on Nov 4

Royal Caribbean International, a global cruise vacation company, said it will start a 13-night cruise from Dubai to Singapore on November 4 followed by the launch of a Middle East itinerary starting in January next year in Dubai.

The announcement comes as the growth in the global cruise industry looks set to strengthen tourist links between the UAE and Singapore, with both countries developing terminals to meet expected increases in demand.

Earlier this month the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing had announced that the emirate’s new cruise terminal, which can hold four ships at once, will be ready for business in January 2010.

The opening of the Dubai terminal is expected to boost the number of cruise passengers entering the emirate from 260,000 to 380,000 per annum, surpassing market analysts’ predictions of a six percent annual global growth rate to 2020.

At the same time Singapore has broken ground on its International Cruise Terminal (ICT), which once complete in 2011, will double the city’s berthing capacity. Cruise passenger throughput has grown steadily, registering an average annual growth rate of 12 percent between 2003 and 2008, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Lakshmi Durai, executive director of Middle East Royal Caribbean said: “Dubai and Singapore are both fast emerging cruise hubs. We’re very lucky to be working so closely with these ports as both have shown tremendous support to the growth of the cruise industry in their respective markets.”

“The increase of new and impressive cruise terminals means Royal Caribbean International will be able to provide its future guests with a truly first-class experience from beginning to end,” Durai added.

The cruise industry had remained resilient amid the economic downturn, seeing a 20 per cent growth in arrivals in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year, according to STB.

It is estimated that Singapore will welcome its one-millionth cruise passenger by year end. Singapore aims to welcome 1.6 million cruise passengers by 2015.

“Asia with its varied landscapes, warm hospitality and multi-cultural appeal is fast becoming the new cruise playground. Leveraging on our excellent air, land and sea connectivity, we aim to make Singapore the cruise hub of the region and welcome more travelers from the Middle East,” said Jason Ong, MEA area director of STB.

“The new cruise ship terminals in Dubai and Singapore will help meet the growth in demand from regional travelers and strengthen tourism links between the two cities. Singapore offers travelers an excellent holiday destination, with top family friendly attractions, luxurious hotels, lush urban nature and some of the best shopping in the world,” he added.

Singapore ICT will be a world-class development strategically located in the city’s new downtown lifestyle and financial hub which is home to new leisure and entertainment attractions, such as the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay SandsTM, Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage.

ICT’s deep waters, a large turning basin and lack of height restrictions, the world’s largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas being built now, will be able to call at Singapore and enjoy dedicated cruise terminal facilities, Ong added.-TradeArabia News Service

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Tourists arrival up 4.4% despite flu and global downturn

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourists arrival to Malaysia has gone up by 4.4% in the first eight months of the year compared with the same period last year.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this was despite the outbreak of the Influenza A(H1N1) and the global economic downturn.

From January to last month, the number of tourists to Malaysia increased to 15.38 million from 14.73 million during the same period last year.

In August alone, tourist arrivals rose by 10.4% to 2.03 million from 1.84 million last year.

“This is an encouraging figure,” said Dr Ng after launching the ministry’s 1Malaysia logo here yesterday.

“This shows that foreign visitors are visiting Malaysia although it is a challenging time now.”

She said tourists from China increased by 14.8% (104,473 people) in August alone, while visitors from Taiwan rose by 30.4% (26,032), Australia, 26.6% (42,969), Britain 16.5% (44.519) and the United States 1.4% (19,557).

Tourists from Singapore increased by 22% (1.09 million) and India by 1.3% (42,332), while visitors from Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea dropped by 5.2% (114,555), 9.9% (181,634) and 15.2% (23,305) respectively.

Dr Ng said tourists from Saudi Arabia and the UAE also decreased by 41.8% and 66.8% to 8,366 and 1,880 respectively due to the Ramadan month. But tourists from Iran increased by 47.9% to 9,470.

Although tourists from most of the popular countries increased, the occupancy rate at local hotels dropped by 3% from January to August compared with last year.

“The decrease shows that visitors are mostly staying with their friends or relatives as well as going for home stay,” Dr Ng said.

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