MIDDLE East visitors flocked to Singapore this summer with the ‘Garden City’ reporting a 30 per cent rise in regional travellers who came to experience two stunning new multi-billion dollar integrated resorts and a raft of world-class events.
Latest figures from Singapore Tourism Board (STB) show that 46,559 people travelled from countries in the region to Singapore between July and September this year, up from 35,786 in the third quarter of 2009.
According to Jason Ong, area director for the Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board: “Arab travellers have always been, and continue to be, an important part of Singapore’s colourful and culturally diverse tourism landscape.”
In 2009 Singapore welcomed 117,000 visitors from the Middle East, a 2.7 per cent growth over 2008, while total visitor arrivals to Singapore reached 9.7 million.
This figure has grown further in 2010 with latest data showing that between January and September of this year Singapore saw a 25 per cent increase in regional visitors, with almost 113,000 arrivals. A breakdown shows visitors from the UAE rose by 13 per cent compared with 2009, while Saudi Arabia was up by 12 per cent, Qatar 20 per cent and Kuwait an impressive 54 per cent.
The global economic recession of 2009 did cause a slight slowdown in business travellers to Singapore, with 2.6 million executives arriving last year, down from three million in 2008. However, this group still made up a significant proportion of all visitors, accounting for 27 per cent of total travellers and spending SG$4.2 billion ($3.2 billion) – about 33 per cent of all tourism receipts in 2009.
This year several new projects launched in Singapore. One of the top attractions was the opening of South East Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park located on Resorts World Sentosa. In June, the Marina Bay Sands resort opened with its 340-m long Sands SkyPark which sits 60 storeys high and features the world’s largest outdoor infinity swimming pool. Summer 2010 also saw Singapore host the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.
To help meet the increase in demand from the rise in travellers, new hotels have sprung up including the majestic Fullerton Bay Hotel which sits along Singapore’s historic Clifford Pier and Wanderlust and Klapsons, two boutique hotels offering travellers stunning design coupled with bespoke personalised service.
The most prominent attraction due to open in 2011 is the 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay development which involves three distinctive waterfront gardens in the heart of Marina Bay which will define Singapore as the world’s premier tropical garden city.
Other highlights for 2011 include the opening of the International Cruise Terminal, the lotus-shaped museum at Marina Bay Sands, the start of a year-long run of the Lion King musical and new food and beverage restaurants by Joël Robuchon – the chef with the most Michelin stars in the world.
“At STB, we have also noticed that travellers are becoming more tech-savvy using the internet and social media to conduct research and make their own travel plans” said Ong. To complement this STB launched its new interactive website YourSingapore earlier this year, offering potential visitors a wealth of multi-media-rich content to assist in planning their own unique trips. Visitors can also create their own itineraries on an interactive map which highlights key points of interest and facilities along the way.
Agents too are also being encouraged to use YourSingapore.com to learn about what’s new and coming online in Singapore. Agents can use the website to research and prepare itineraries which they can share with their clients.