Singapore Tourism Board target more than 15 million tourist - Welcome!

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Singapore on target for 15m tourists despite slow start
Despite a lull in visitor arrivals earlier this year, the Republic is expecting to draw more than 15 million international visitors in 2015.

Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Lionel Yeo told Reuters in an interview on Thursday (Sep 17) that it is “on target” to achieve 0 to 3 per cent growth in visitor arrivals - or a total of 15.1 million to 15.5 million tourists. July’s numbers rose by 7.7 per cent over the previous year, he noted.

“We are somewhat hopeful that we have turned a corner,” added Mr Yeo.

Visitor arrivals had decreased in the first four months of this year before showing a slight uptrend from May. But arrivals between January and July are still 1.7 per cent lower than those in the same period last year.

Inbound tour operators had mixed views on the tourism outlook for the rest of the year, citing uncertain economic conditions.

July’s increase in tourist arrivals was mainly due to summer school holidays in neighbouring places such as Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China, they said.

Siam Express managing director Jaclyn Yeoh said that arrivals from China, one of Singapore’s top markets, have not yet picked up.

“There is a lot of uncertainty and (consumers) might want to save their money instead of spending it on travelling,” said Ms Yeoh, who felt there was need to tap new markets such as Brazil and Myanmar.

Ms Judy Lum, Tour East Singapore’s group vice-president of sales and marketing, expects more long-haul visitors during the year-end period due to the strengthening US dollar and British pound, even if their numbers are not as high as in previous years.

National Association of Travel Agents Singapore executive director Steven Lek noted the steady stream of tourists from Indonesia and China, and felt confident that “the outlook for the year is bright”.

This weekend’s Formula One race has also brought some cheer to hospitality players.

Pan Pacific Singapore general manager Gino Tan said track-facing rooms are fully booked and, with last-minute bookings, the hotel is expecting full occupancy this weekend. This year, its sales and marketing efforts started earlier and some guests booked their rooms four to five months in advance, he said.

Marina Mandarin Singapore also began its early-bird promotion earlier this year and said its group and corporate bookings have increased from two years ago, despite room rates holding steady.

Even Royal Plaza on Scotts, which is located further from the race track, is expecting full occupancy this weekend. Its rates are about 5 per cent lower than last year’s due to the relatively slow start this year, which “has impacted room rates across the hotel industry”, said chief experience officer and general manager Patrick Fiat.


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