Singapore visitor arrivals for October 2002

Singapore visitor arrivals in October 2002 recorded a double-digit growth of 12.0%, , to a total of 638,237 visitors. All markets, apart from Australia, registered positive growth in visitor arrivals this month. This increase contributed to an increase in hotel average occupancy rate (+2.1 percentage points) this month.

The 12 largest visitor-generating markets were:

Promotions of the opening of the Esplanade by STB contributed to an increase in visitor arrivals from Malaysia (+3.2%).

The growth in visitor arrivals from Hong Kong (+8.6%) could be attributed to the presence of a long weekend which coincided with the opening of the Esplanade. Holiday and group-packaged traffic recorded a double-digit growth of 27.4% and 78.4% respectively.

The increase in holiday (+2.0%) and business-related (+3.6%) traffic contributed to a 1.0% growth in arrivals from Indonesia.

Visitor arrivals from Japan grew significantly by 62.5%, contributed by the overseas school trips (approximately 1,300 pax) and corporate groups to Singapore. Holiday and business-related traffic grew 78.4% and 30.5% respectively over a low base last year.

Aggressive group travel promotions led to a double-digit growth (+35.4%) in visitor arrivals from China. This resulted in a significant increase in group packaged tours (+48.5%) and holiday traffic (+43.1%).

The preference for domestic travel led to a decline in visitor arrivals from Australia (-1.6%). Holiday traffic fell 7.0%.

UK registered a growth of 4.3%, supported by an increase in holiday (+5.9%) and business-related (+8.1%) traffic.

India's arrivals grew 29.7%, boosted by the strong increase in holiday arrivals (+67.0%). There was also a significant rise in FITs (+53.0%).

Visitor arrivals from South Korea registered a double-digit growth of 19.4%, partly as a result of diversion of holiday traffic to Singapore after the Bali incident. Holiday (+34.4%) and business-related (+9.5%) traffic recorded increases.

The increase in visitor arrivals from USA (+35.1%) could be attributed to the low base last year. Holiday and business-related arrivals grew by 47.4% and 42.8% respectively.

Overall, holiday arrivals from the top 12 markets grew strongly by 22.9%. Growth was registered from Japan (+78.4%), India (+67.0%), USA (+47.4%), China (+43.1%), and South Korea (+34.4%). Australia and Malaysia were the only markets that experienced decreases in holiday arrivals of 7.0% and 5.5% respectively.

For a second consecutive month, business-related1 traffic had experienced a positive growth in arrivals. The growth of 7.5% was largely contributed to the strong performances from USA (+42.8%), Japan (+30.5%), China (+15.2%) and South Korea (+9.5%). On the other hand, business-related traffic from Thailand (-9.1%), Hong Kong (-7.0%) and India (-7.0%) declined.

Hotel Sector Performance in October 2002

Maximum room-nights: 952,708 (+1.0%); Available room-nights: 884,366 (+1.7%)

Gross lettings: 666,534 (+4.6%); Paid lettings: 656,215 (+4.4%)

Standard AOR: 75.4% (up 2.1 percentage points over October 2001)

Standard ARR: $126.2 (-5.1%)

Visitor Arrivals in January - October 2002

Visitor arrivals in the first ten months of 2002 dropped marginally by 0.8% over the same period in 2001, to a total of 6,268,214 visitors. However, visitor arrivals from Indonesia, China, South Korea and India continued to register increases.

The 12 largest visitor-generating markets were:

Holiday arrivals from the top 12 markets registered a positive growth of 1.7%. Markets that grew were China (+42.6%), India (+22.3%) South Korea (+4.4%), Hong Kong (+3.3%) and Indonesia (+3.3%). Conversely, USA (-14.8%), Japan (-14.2%), Malaysia (-13.1%) and Australia (-4.8%) posted declines in this segment.

Business-related traffic fell 2.5%, caused primarily by the drop in business-related traffic from Hong Kong (-11.3%), Malaysia (-8.8%), Taiwan (-8.2%), Japan (-5.4%), and UK (-5.0%). Markets that registered growth were China (+15.0%), South Korea (+6.9%) and Indonesia (+1.4%).

Hotel Sector Performance in January - October 2002

Maximum room-nights: 9,337,940 (+1.1%); Available room-nights: 8,728,209 (+0.5%)

Gross lettings: 6,502,487 (-3.1%); Paid lettings: 6,400,769 (-3.2%)

Standard AOR: 74.5% (down 2.7 percentage points over January - October 2001)

Standard ARR: $126.8 (-5.9%)

AOR = Average Occupancy Rate 
ARR = Average Room Rate
Figures for the Hotel Sector Performance is updated as at 15 November 2002