BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR SINGAPORE AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET

Singapore aims to show the world that it is business as usual in the Republic at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM), which takes place in London from November 12-15.

In spite of the current international crisis, which has affected visitor arrivals to the region, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is determined to lead the industry towards recovery.

A S$13 million assistance package to stimulate the industry in Singapore and create growth opportunities was announced on 1 November by STB’s Chairman, Mr Edmund W Cheng. This will include additional funds for sponsorship for projects undertaken by companies in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE), Events and Arts & Entertainment sectors.

Mr Yeo Khee Leng, the STB’s Chief Executive said: “The main objective of this assistance package is to ensure that STB can help our industry stakeholders cope with the repercussions of the downturn. We must also ensure that Singapore remains committed to the goal of becoming a tourism capital and doing business as usual”.

Despite declines in arrivals from some markets, preliminary figures show that Singapore is seeing growth from certain areas such as Australia (12.3 per cent rise) and China (14.6 per cent rise) for the period between September 12 and October 28. Although arrivals from the UK show a marginal decline of 6.7 per cent over the same period, there is an encouraging upward trend from some European countries including CIS (9.1 per cent), Germany (1.5 per cent) and Switzerland (4.6 per cent). European arrivals to Singapore for the period January to September are up 2.3 per cent over corresponding periods last year.

Singapore will be represented at WTM on Stand AS610, within the “Together in Asia” Pavilion. This partnership, with Hong Kong and Thailand, provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the regional attractions to international partners, as well as highlight that travelling to this part of Asia is safe, stress free and away from troubled spots.

The Singapore delegation, comprising 24 organisations with an excellent portfolio of leading products and services, will be making a strong bid to convince international partners that Singapore is keener than ever for their business. The key message is that Singapore’s image has changed to a very vibrant, exciting and culturally diverse city where opportunities to live it up abound !

In addition, STB wants to reassure its partners that the situation in Singapore is calm. The MICE Sector remains stable and the many exciting events, from sports to arts and entertainment planned in Singapore throughout the year, are continuing as normal. Next year, the Republic will open its state of the art Theatres-on-the-Bay - a performing arts venue - and the new Asian Civilisations Museum. Singapore’s entertainment scene, regarded as one of the most electrifying in Asia, will feature stage shows such as Alegria by Cirque du Soleil. In sports, Singapore has just confirmed it will host one leg of the World Sevens Series in April, as well as staging the Caltex Singapore Masters, a European PGA-sanctioned golf tournament. Other milestones are the SIA International Cup, the International Jazz Festival and the biennial Asian Aerospace Show.

Singapore is also rated best place for business. A recent survey of 1,000 business expatriates in 13 Asian economies, undertaken by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, has rated Singapore as the top place to do business. Singapore was also voted the Best Business Destination in three separate readership polls conducted by Business Traveller UK, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific and Time Magazine.

Ms Magdalene Lee, STB’s Director Destination Marketing said: “This proves Singapore is still a choice business destination. Our leisure visitors are also assured a memorable experience, as Singapore will have a calendar packed with exciting events and we invite the world to come, forget all their troubles for a while and indulge in the good life here”.

Prior to WTM, the STB, with Singapore Airlines, are leading a delegation of 10 organisations in a Roadshow to Stockholm (6 November) and Copenhagen (8 November). This provides a good platform to build on the heightened interest and awareness of Singapore as a destination following the successful staging of the Singapore Live! consumer promotion in Stockholm in summer. It will also provide an opportunity for industry partners to explore and renew relations in both markets.

WTM is an annual travel event, regarded as one of the key business platforms for the industry, which attracts over 26,000 trade visitors. This year, STB hopes to forge new relations with visitors and buyers, as well as consolidate relationships with existing international partners.