Singapore celebrates Christmas in the Tropics with a seven-week Extravaganza

The most enchanting time of the year will be celebrated in magical fashion once again as the Singapore's annual ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ returns for a seven-week extravaganza from 11 November 2006 to 2 January 2007.

Getting local residents and visitors into the cheerful yuletide spirit this year is a line-up of exciting events including festive performances, entertainment events, shopping specials, concerts and dance parties and of course, the spectacular street light-up down Orchard Road and Marina Bay.

Singapore Tourism Board’s Assistant Chief Executive (Leisure), Dr Chan Tat Hon, said, “Celebrating the Christmas season in Singapore has become one of the most attractive holiday options for tourists in the region and beyond. Our survey showed that more than 20% of visitors who were in Singapore during the same period last year had specifically planned their trip to coincide with Singapore’s year-end celebrations and our spectacular annual Christmas Light-Up. Especially noteworthy is the finding that an estimated 22% of tourists were, in fact, repeat visitors to the Christmas Light-Up, a signature highlight.

“I’m sure visitors in Singapore this year will enjoy a ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ experience that is Uniquely Singapore, and bring home memories that will make many come back again year after year, making Singapore the place to be for the Christmas season.”

Now in its 23rd year, the much anticipated Christmas Light-Up will see Orchard Road and Marina Bay transformed by festive street lighting, magnificent celebratory arches, awe-inspiring water features and picture-perfect sets that will delight shoppers, pedestrians and shutterbugs alike. The Light-Up this year will feature two themes – ‘The Enchanted Christmas Garden’ spanning Tanglin, Scotts and Orchard roads, and ‘Christmas Bells’ down Bras Basah Road to the Marina Bay district.

Aside from the Light-Up, key entertainment events to look out for during the seven-week festive season include Celebrate Christmas in Singapore, the umbrella event along Orchard Road presenting nightly Christmas-themed activities by choral groups, musicians, dancers as well as the magnificent ‘Parade of Floats’ from 16 December onwards culminating in a Grand Christmas concert on Christmas night itself; the National Museum of Singapore Opening Festival that will showcase performances from local talents and internationally-acclaimed foreign arts groups; the popular ZoukOut outdoor dance festival on Sentosa; Christmas concerts by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; the inaugural Singapore Garden Festival, as well as a myriad countdown parties across the island to ring in the New Year.

The Christmas festivities are never complete without Christmas shopping. Many malls and retailers will offer special shopping deals, late night shopping as well as post-Christmas sales. Visitors in Singapore can look forward to a compelling promotion extended exclusively to them. A range of specially-priced gift items by 18 brand names such as Apple, Burberry, Emporio Armani, Furla and SK-II will be available for purchase. Another treat for visitors is the complimentary Christmas Light-Up Tour on the striking open-top HiPPO Bus (available from 11 November 2006 – 2 January 2007; no tours on 24 & 31 December 2006). This 30-minute visual treat gives visitors the best seat to see the Light-Up up close as it travels along Orchard Road or on the new route through Marina Bay.

December is traditionally a month that sees large numbers of visitors to Singapore. In December 2005, the city recorded 829,000 visitors (second highest monthly arrival figure after July 2005’s 877,000 visitors), up 28,000 from the year before and the Singapore Tourism Board expects this year’s visitor arrival results to be equally encouraging.

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