Singapore's incentive industry is eyeing Europe's Mediterranean region, which has in the last few years, yielded annual growth of 10 per cent in terms of incentive arrivals to Singapore.
Singapore hopes to boost these figures further, by courting incentive planners of the Mediterranean. From 6 to 11 April, Singapore hosted top incentive agents from the Mediterranean for the first time, on a high profile educational to sample the island Republic's many delights. The theme of the programme was "Senses of Incentive Isle Singapore".
Spearheaded by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), a division of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), STB's Office in Paris and Singapore Airlines, the main objective was to present Singapore as a premier incentive destination.
Mr Lee Loong Koon, Director Exhibitions & Conventions, STB said: "Our statistics show that the number of incentive participants from the Mediterranean region grew by 10 per cent between 1998 and 2000. Through educationals like this one, we hope to boost growth figures from Mediterranean Europe."
A total of 14 incentive agents from France, Greece, Italy and Spain and two journalists from France and Italy experienced a wide range of incentive activities and events during their stay in Singapore. These included an evening at the legendary Raffles Hotel, a Tai Chi session and a fabulous SENSE-sational Singapore dinner party on Siloso Beach,
Sentosa.
The group also explored new venues and ideas, such as the Asian Civilisations Museum II, which will be officially opened in February 2003. An exquisite evening of Peranakan culture, food and entertainment was staged at the museum.
Partnering SECB and Singapore Airlines in this initiative were several of Singapore's finest hotels and five Destination Management Companies.
The incentive agents were suitably inspired by their Singapore experience.
Mr Nicolino Poeta, an agent from Club Med in Italy, said: "I have been really surprised and delighted by what Singapore has to offer. Through this programme, I am better equipped with knowledge of Singapore's incentive products to recommend to my clients."
The Mediterranean Educational is part of SECB's wider remit to promote Singapore as an enjoyable and memorable incentive destination with customisation as one of the key elements. These facets are encapsulated in SECB's current marketing campaign, Incentive Isle Singapore.
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