SINGAPORE has been ranked the Top International Meeting City in 2007 in the Union of International Associations (UIA) 2007 Global Rankings, further boosting Singapore’s position as the exchange capital of the world.
In the UIA’s International Meetings Statistics 2007 report, Singapore advanced two places to secure the top position, beating perennial favourites Paris (ranked second) and Vienna (third).
In addition, Singapore also topped the rankings in Asia, as Asia’s top country and city for meetings – a position it has held for the last 24 consecutive years. As a destination, Singapore accounted for 22.5 per cent of the meetings held in the continent in 2007. Over the past 10 years, Singapore has also seen a 256 per cent growth in international meetings staged within the city. The Union of International Associations is an independent, non-governmental and non profit body whose key activities include consolidating statistics on international organisations and their international meetings.
“Not only is Singapore renowned for its world class infrastructure and vibrant ecosystem of MICE professionals, but with Singapore’s tourism landscape transformed with new developments such as the Integrated Resorts, the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa; the Marina Bay Financial Centre, and the first phase of Gardens by the Bay, we will continue to deliver memorable experiences to business travellers and event organisers,” said Jason Ong, area director, Middle East & Africa, Singapore Tourism Board.
Major events like Cityscape Asia choose to stage their events in Singapore because of its infrastructure, good transportation and telecommunications systems, strategic location in Asia, safe environment, transparent business environment and an English speaking workforce.
Last year saw Singapore hosting 465 international meetings that met UIA’s qualifying criteria, representing a significant 56 per cent growth over 2006. Most notable among these were The third Hague International Model of United Nations, the 27th International Epilepsy Congress, the 2nd World Glaucoma Congress & Exhibition, the 18th Wonca World Conference 2007 and International Bar Association Conference 2007, which cumulatively drew about 12,700 delegates to the city.
“The UIA congratulates Singapore on the steady growth in the number of international meetings it has hosted over the past few years, a growth that results from and reflects the focus, quality and creativity of the Singapore meetings industry,” said Jacques de Mevius, secretary general, UIA.
Singapore also maintained its ranking as the easiest place in the world to do business for the third year running in the latest World Bank Report, and edged out New Zealand and the United States in the “Doing Business 2009” ranking by the World Bank.