SINGAPORE saw a decline in tourist arrivals last year, especially from the Philippines, which is considered one of its larger markets, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said.
“Filipinos were hesitant to travel despite the country’s resilience to the economic recession last year. But this year there is a gradual increase of tourists from the Philippines,” according to STB area director Lynelle Seow.
Seow said now is a good time to visit the city-state with the unveiling of new attractions, including the Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa, where Universal Studios Singapore is located.
Coming attractions include a cruise terminal, a river safari that includes two pandas from China, the Garden by the Bay, which is the second botanical garden in Singapore, and a national art gallery.
STB regional director Yee Choong Chooi said, “Singapore is boring no more. We have a lot of attractions with world class facilities to offer to our tourists.”
To allow travelers to get personal with their trips to the city-state, STB recently unveiled its “YourSingapore” campaign, which focuses on personalization and the uniqueness of Singapore.
“We are offering our website www.yoursingapore.com, which allows tourists to surf, find attractions, plan or customize their
trips,” said Chooi.
The website also facilitates sharing of experiences among travelers and local residents and will be updated with multimedia content and deliver “a new virtual experience that no other destination website currently offers.”
Change
Seow said their country embraces change quickly because “we need to remain competitive with other countries and Singapore, being a hub for different nationalities, allows us to gather many ideas on how to improve Singapore,” Seow said.
Singapore is considered a melting pot in Asia due to its diverse nationalities. It houses different cultures and offers a world-class environment thriving side by side with interesting cultures.
Singapore is one of the top destinations for Filipinos, especially with direct flights from Manila and Cebu offered by different airlines.