seminars, workshops and skills upgrading features

Sep / Oct 2013p@ssportYour Industry Update from the singapore tourism board

p@ssportYour Industry Update from the singapore tourism board

p@ssportYour Industry Update from the singapore tourism board

When we sent P@SSPORT off on a much-needed “vacation”

to allow for a comprehensive review back in August 2012, I had promised readers that we would return in due course. Well, we’re now back, rejuvenated, and very

excited to introduce our new look in this first

revamped issue. What has not changed is that

P@SSPORT will continue to deliver useful and interesting content on the tourism sector. We hope you will continue to find this now bi-monthly issue not only a good read but also an invaluable resource for your business.

In this issue, you will find a mid-year outlook on the travel sector, including a summary of the global and local tourism and travel trends for 2013.

We are also sharing valuable insights gained from our extensive consumer research and years of in-market trade engagement, stemming from our desire to better understand our visitors. This new segment begins with a report on the outbound Japanese visitor, exploring their likes and dislikes, travel and consumption habits, and top travel considerations.

Events continue to feature prominently in our newsletter. There is a spotlight on the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, and its exciting complement – the Grand Prix Singapore Season, with an exciting backstage peek at the gargantuan efforts that went into race preparation, planning and organisation. And with the Singapore Experience Awards taking place in October, we interviewed some judges to get a glimpse of the arduous task of evaluating and assessing the nominees to finally arrive at the winners’ list.

As part of our journey towards quality tourism, STB collaborates with other government agencies to develop schemes and programmes to strengthen local industries. This issue, we feature the Sectoral Productivity Call for Collaboration (CFC) and Attractions and Experience Development Series.

I would like to thank you all for your patience and look forward to any comments you might have on this rejuvenated issue of P@SSPORT!

Till next issue!

Sincerely, Oliver ChongDirector, Communications

EDITOR’S NOTE 1

SINGAPORE IN THE NEWS 2

MARKET WATCH

TOURISM AND TRAVEL TRENDS – Flying High: Tourism and Travel Trends for 2013 3

VISITOR PROFILE – Understanding the Japanese Traveller 5

WHAT’S UP, SINGAPORE?

ON THE HORIZON – Mark Your Calendar 7

FEATURES – Behind The Scenes at the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix 9

Five Years of GPSS 11

POST EVENTS – Highlights from Tourism Industry Conference 2013 13

INDUSTRY UPDATES

INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE – Funding for Tourism Growth 15

INDUSTRY UPGRADING – The Makings of a Great Singapore Experience 16

GEMS Up and Singapore Service Excellence Medallion 17

Sectoral Productivity Call for Collaboration 18

Attractions and Experience Development Series 18

STB BULLETIN

TOURISM STATS AND FIGURES – Singapore Tourism Performance 3Q 2012 19

Welcome back to P@SSPORT!

ContentsEDITOR’S NOTE

To view this PDF in single page view, click on ‘View’ in the menu bar, scroll to ‘Page Display’ and select ‘Single Page View’

We would love to hear from you. For feedback on the issue as well as suggestions for articles you would like to read here, please email us at stb_passport@stb.gov.sg.

SB

E

E

IU

WS

MW

N

1 – Sep/Oct 2013

23 JUL 2013 THE GROWING BEAUTY OF SINGAPOREThe Philippine Star Singapore’s transformation story has been one of epic proportions with new developments enhancing the city’s international appeal. Coupled with a constant flow of new attractions, festivals, events and other interesting activities, it is no wonder that this is a great place to live, work and play.

19 JUL 2013 FESTIVALS NOT TO BE MISSED IN SINGAPORENhip Cau Dau Tu Online (Full article is only available in Vietnamese) July to September is a great period for culture buffs to discover the beauty of the diverse cultures of Singapore. Visitors will get to experience the many colourful festivals of the main ethnic races such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Deepavali and Hari Raya, while they appreciate the rich cultural heritage the country has to offer.

17 JUL 2013 WORLD’S BEST AWARDS 2013: TOP CITIES IN ASIATravel + Leisure Singapore maintains its position at No. 7 for the second year running, in the “Top Cities in Asia” category in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2013.

10 JUL 2013 GREEN ACRES BY SINGAPORE’S SKYSCRAPERSThe New York Times Amidst Singapore’s concrete jungle of tall skyscrapers, there has been a growing green movement across the island. Visitors can now explore the lesser known areas such as Kranji and experience the local kampong spirit, while admiring the evolving agritourism landscape which has begun to redefine Singaporean cuisine and culture.

28 MAY 2013 SINGAPORE. THE MEGA LION CITYWestdeutsche Zeitung (Full article is only available in German) Singapore is one of the most fascinating metropolises worldwide and an ideal stopover shopping destination. Looking beyond the famous Orchard Road shopping belt, the city offers luscious green spaces and leisure options, coupled with a diverse mix of ethnic quarters for visitors to explore.

1 FEB 2013 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2013DestinAsian Singapore remains the “Favourite City Destination in the World” for both business and pleasure in this annual poll, which recognises destinations and brands that exemplify high standards for service and excellence. Other notable Singaporean brands like Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines also claim top honours in their respective categories.

11 JAN 2013 THE 46 PLACES TO GO IN 2013The New York TimesSingapore makes it to Number 11 in this list of the newspaper’s must-see destinations this year. While the world has long admired Singapore as a centre of finance, its inclusion on the list is for another kind of green – the ecological kind. Singapore is ranked the greenest city in Asia according to The Economist magazine and just recently, the city-state has amped up its green quotient further with the opening of Gardens by the Bay, boosting its credentials as a destination for environmental tourism.

SINGAPORE IN THE NEWS N

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

MARKET WATCH – TOURISM AND TRAVEL TRENDS

Singapore tourism has been enjoying unprecedented growth in recent years. Further growth is expected for 2013, albeit at a slower pace. For the first half of the year, Singapore welcomed about 7.6 million visitors, a significant jump of slightly more than 0.5 million compared to the same period last year*. A boost that is no doubt helped by more low-cost carriers in Asia, along with a growing Asian middle class, who are spending more on overseas travel and leisure activities.

Maintaining Singapore’s reputation as a hot tourist spot will be challenging, given the rapidly changing environment and shifts in consumer preference. As such, we need to consider current trends in order to keep travellers happy and remain competitive in the tourism and travel (T&T) industry.

Global TrendsReleased in March 2013, the Travel & Tourism World Competitiveness Report 2013 ranks 140 countries according to how attractive they are for T&T development, and offers insights into how the industry is faring globally.

• Switzerland continues to hold the top position, which it has done so for five consecutive editions of the report. Ranked 10th overall, Singapore is the top-ranked economy in Asia, the same position it has held for the past three editions.

• Despite uncertainty in the global economy over the recent year, the T&T industry has been relatively resilient. The sector has continued to reap the benefits of continued globalisation, with travel increasing in mature markets as well as the greater demand from the growing middle class in developing economies. T&T has continued to be a critical sector for economic development and for sustaining employment, in both advanced and developing economies.

• Leisure travel spending still outstrips business travel spending; It generated 76.0 per cent of direct T&T gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011 (US$3,056.9 billion), compared with 24.1 per cent for business. Leisure travel is set to grow even more, given the growing middle class in developing countries.

• More consumers are turning to online and mobile platforms to make travel arrangements, especially for medium-cost travel. It’s debatable if the online trend will extend to high-end travel, where the human touch is still a premium, and developing countries where travel agents still play an important role.

• Customer expectations are high and travellers now seek personalisation – customised experiences that specifically meet their needs and preferences.

The largest potential for travel growth lies in Asia…TravelRave is one platform for professionals in the T&T industry to discuss and explore these opportunities.

MW

* preliminary figures from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), rounded off to the nearest thousands. Source: STB’s Visitor Arrival Statistics (www.stb.gov.sg)

Flying High: Tourism and Travel Trends for 2013

3 – Sep/Oct 2013

• The prevalent use of information technology and people’s desire to stay connected means that companies should consider providing more, faster, and higher-quality connectivity on planes, boats, and trains. At the same time, companies could develop new applications for people to self-check into hotels, obtain car rentals, and more.

• Though the industry has made much progress in environmental sustainability, customers and passengers still perceive the industry as being a heavy polluter. Engaging the public is essential to get them involved in reducing the environmental impact of T&T.

Local TrendsOn the Singapore front, four main trends have emerged:

• Travellers with more sophisticated tastes Travellers are becoming more discerning in the type

of experiences they want to have, be it iconic offerings, quirky offbeat adventures or insider travel.

• Intensifying regional competition Singapore’s competitors are investing

heavily in tourist attractions: New Integrated Resorts in Macau and South Korea; a possible F1 night street race in Bangkok by 2015; and the opening of Universal Studios in South Korea and Shanghai.

• Slower workforce growth Singapore’s ageing workforce and the

tightening of the foreign workforce supply mean that it will be harder to sustain growth in the tourism sector.

• Visitor economy’s impact on the resident population

In a compact city like Singapore, tourism activities and establishments interact closely with the resident population, which may result in new opportunities of growth, or create problems.

TravelRave: Tapping into the Asian MarketGiven that the largest potential for travel growth lies in Asia, especially with the rise of the mass affluent in the emerging economies here, discussions on the opportunities and challenges in Asia are vital to continue the region’s great performance in T&T. As such, TravelRave is one platform where professionals in the T&T industry can gather to exchange in-depth knowledge and uncover new opportunities in Asian tourism.

Held yearly in Singapore since 2010, TravelRave is Asia’s most influential travel trade festival. It has a one-week lineup of trade events including Asia Travel Leaders Summit, ITB Asia, Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference and Web in Travel Conference.

Last year’s edition attracted more than 10,700 attendees across eight events. Industry experts shared their views about Asia, giving forecasts of upcoming travel trends.

One prediction that held true was the faster growth in developing markets than developed markets. “The middle class today is driving tourism, particularly in countries like India

and China which have huge domestic tourism,” said Deepak Ohri, CEO of Lebua Hotels and Resorts.

A joint study by Singapore Tourism Board, The Boston Consulting Group and

Visa, predicted that by 2020, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian travellers will account for nearly 70 per cent of Asian outbound travel spend, about US$425 billion in total spend. Two out of every five travellers are expected to be Asian,

accounting for nearly half of global tourism expenditure. At the same time,

Dr Martin Buck, Vice President of Messe Berlin (Singapore) and organiser of ITB Asia

noted that there is a very strong demand particularly from emerging markets such as Jordan, Colombia,

Venezuela, South Africa and Pakistan as well, explaining that travellers now have a yen to

explore new destinations.Another identified trend that is going

strong: People going the online and mobile route for travel bookings. The total online travel gross booking was the highest in Asia in 2012, and the numbers are growing rapidly in APAC. The joint study released at the ATLS 2012 also affirmed

this trend, revealing that Asian Middle Affluent Consumers from China, India and

Indonesia are using online sources, particularly social media, to inform their travel experiences.

Chinese travellers are moving to online purchasing. Indonesia is also moving towards digital travel

planning and purchase. In the past five years, online travel sales have increased tenfold

(from one per cent of sales to 10 per cent). Young Indonesians are going online in greater numbers, particularly through mobile devices.

While Asia’s cruise industry was identified as a segment with high growth potential, it still remains to be seen

whether cruise tourism will take off. As such, it really depends on companies putting

in the effort to cultivate demand for cruising.To get a deeper understanding of how to

create and develop products and services that meet consumers’ desires in response to these trends, the tourism leaders and prominent players in the international and Asian travel industry will be meeting again at TravelRave 2013.

Taking place from 21 to 25 October 2013, this year’s festival is packed with panel discussions, workshops and conferences, showcasing the latest innovations that leverage on Asia’s strengths and celebrating the region’s achievements. If you wish to advance your business in the travel sphere and play your part in shaping the future of tourism in Asia, join TravelRave to network with peers in the industry.

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

45%42% 656,000 S$796m13%

17%

4%

31%

36%

13%

MARKET WATCH – VISITOR PROFILE

Singapore has seen a steady increase in Japanese visitor arrivals, from 571,000 (2008) to 656,000 (2011). In addition, tourist receipts from Japan have also risen from S$652 million (2008) to S$796 million (2011). About five per cent of the total number of visitors to Singapore annually is Japanese, the seventh largest tourist market in 2011. Figures are expected to rise from 2012 onwards.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recently embarked on consumer research and in-market trade engagements to better understand the needs of the Japanese traveller. The insights gained will allow Singapore’s tourism sector to cater to their interests through customised and relevant experiences.

An almost equal proportion of Japanese (45 per cent) are here for holiday or to visit friends and relatives. Known for their intolerance for unpredictability, the Japanese will usually plan a

THE JAPANESE TRAVELLER TO SINGAPORE (2011) PURPOSE TOP TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS

EXPENDITURE

VISITOR ARRIVALS (TO SG)

VISITOR RECEIPTS (IN SG)

PEAK PERIOD

PLANNING PERIOD

Leisure (visit friends/relatives + holiday)

Business / MICE

Number of days available for trip

Fits the budget

Interesting culture/heritage

Travel companion

Visit friends/relatives

August – September

1 to 3 months in advance

Others

Shopping

Transport

Accommodation

Others

F&B

trip one to three months in advance, which means we should reach out to them starting in May as the peak period for outbound travel is between August to September, with a smaller peak in March. To appeal to the Japanese traveller, it is best to market the trip as a “safe adventure” – a hint of adventure in a well-articulated and thoughtful itinerary, to impart a sense of certainty when it comes to the experiences they can get at the destination. Helping them to know what to expect will make them feel more comfortable and in turn, more receptive to new ideas and experiences.

Singapore is a global economic hub and springboard for the region so it comes as no surprise that a good 42 per cent of Japanese make their way here for Business/MICE events. Almost one in every two Japanese travellers are here for business, with most coming from Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and Chiba.

1.3.5.

2.4.

MW

Understanding the Japanese Traveller

5 – Sep/Oct 2013

9611.39 10

68%

31%

20%

51%

52%

65%

36%

40%

20%

39%

Japanese businesses are now more likely to diversify services and operations into the region following the disasters that ravaged the country in 2011. Singapore is also an increasingly popular destination for companies to send their staff on incentive trips, with our reputation for safety, cleanliness and efficiency. The Japanese business traveller spends on accommodation and every other business traveller does his or her shopping at Changi Airport.

The Japanese traveller is always looking for the chance to increase his or her knowledge of and exposure to the world.

JAPANESE LEISURE TRAVELLER: MEDIA CONSUMPTION HABITS

MILLION

MILLION

USE OF ONLINE TRAVEL AGENTS (OTA) FOR TRAVEL BOOKINGS

BEFORE TRAVEL

DURING TRAVEL

OVER

IN

Internet users

travellers surfed the web for leisure at least once a week

monthly unique hits (May-July 2011)

Online sources

Online sources

Tourism brochures

Maps picked up at destination

Travel guidebooks

Travel guidebooks

Recommendation from past visitors

Brochures picked up at destination

Tourism office

Hotel concierge

They’re usually attracted to cultural things and activities, regardless of the destination. A guided tour of Little India or through the mysterious façade of Fort Canning whilst sharing the hidden narratives of each district are some possibilities in creating a valuable travel experience, one that cannot be quantified and is unique for each traveller.

What do they spend on? Research shows expenditure on accommodation grew 32 per cent year on year, with Japanese travellers picking hotels categorised as “mid-tier” and above, possibly due to their expectation of higher service standards at

the respondents using smartphones, indicating they would use smartphones to search for travel information.

With these insights on the tendencies and preferences of the Japanese traveller, we hope to be able to prepare better and more meaningful experiences as we welcome them to the cultural melting pot that is Singapore, be it for business or leisure – with arms wide open, a sincere smile and the ever-polite konnichiwa.

For a complete and in-depth look at the Japanese outbound tourism market, go to STB Market Insights Japan.

higher-tier accommodation options. With regards to shopping, the Japanese have a particular fondness for buying souvenirs (omiyage), especially novelty items that are representative of the destination culture and individually packed food items. Omiyage could be a method of social communication with peers, used in part to create solidarity with those left at home, or as a means of fulfilling a social obligation having received senbetsu or monetary gifts prior to leaving for travel.

In line with their nature of uncertainty avoidance, the Japanese prefer official sources of information to back their research on a destination. They are relying on online sources more, with half of

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

WHAT’S UP, SINGAPORE? – ON THE HORIZON

Mark Your CalendarWhat keeps Singapore vibrant and competitive is its constant reinvention and creation of exciting tourism experiences, facilities and entertainment options. The tourism landscape has never been better, with a plethora of business and leisure events and brand-new attractions coming your way in the next two months.

CRUISE Stopover of the Queen Elizabeth 2 (1 November) The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) will make a three-day stopover Singapore in November. Previously the flagship of the Cunard cruise line and one of the last transatlantic ocean liners, the QE2 leaves Dubai on October 18 for China where it’ll be transformed into a floating luxury hotel. It is estimated to arrive in Singapore on November 1, with another scheduled stop at Hong Kong before heading to its final destination.

HOSPITALITY Opening of The Westin Singapore (November) The Westin Singapore occupies the 32nd to 46th floor of Asia Square Tower 2 in Marina Bay, the city’s new financial district. The 305-roomer promises convenient travelling to corporate offices, the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre and the city’s attractions, making it ideal for business travellers.

WS

7 – Sep/Oct 2013

SPORTS FLOW Tour Asia 2013 Pro Championship Finals (6 October) The Pro Championship Finals of the FLOW (Flowboarding League of the World) Tour Asia 2013 takes place at Wave House Sentosa. It’ll be an exciting showdown of skill in riding the waves between bodyboarding and flowboarding surfers from Singapore, Thailand, Japan and around the region. Winners will go on to represent Asia in the international FLOW Championships.

MICE Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair (12 – 15 October) This inaugural event at Marina Bay Sands welcomes over 176 exhibitors from more than 25 countries, including Belgium, Italy, the UK and the US, with many of them manufacturers for world-renowned jewellery brands. Supported by the Singapore Jewellers Association, and the Diamond Exchange of Singapore, it features finished fine jewellery and precious gemstones such as blue diamonds and natural pearls.

TravelRave (21 – 25 October) TravelRave is Asia’s most influential travel trade platform, in which tourism leaders and professionals in the travel and hospitality sectors come together to explore new ways to promote the growth of the industry. It boasts an impressive lineup of trade events such as Asia Travel Leaders Summit, Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference, Hotel Technology Conference and UIA Associations Round Table.

Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) (28 October – 1 November) Organised by the Singapore Energy Market Authority, this annual weeklong conference is attended by energy professionals, industry leaders, policymakers and academics to discuss key issues within the energy industry.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT World Architecture Festival (2 – 4 October) This is the world’s largest festival and live awards programme for the international architecture community. Held at Marina Bay Sands, the festival will encompass presentations, debates and seminars, talks by international keynote speakers, providing a networking platform for world-renowned architects and talented young practitioners to engage with each other.

da:ns Festival (11 – 20 October) This 10-day festival at the Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay is all about the art of movement, with talks, demonstrations shows and workshops revolving around dance. Dance companies and artists from different countries will perform. There will also be masterclasses on techniques and choreography.

Singapore Biennale (26 Oct 2013 – 16 Feb 2014) The theme for this year’s contemporary art biennale is “If the World Changed”, comprising works that document and question the transformations taking place within Southeast Asian communities. The Singapore Biennale will present new artists and fresh works from the region, at multiple venues in the Bras Basah/Bugis district.

Singapore Writers Festival (1 – 10 November) One of the few literary festivals in the world that is multilingual, the SWF highlights works in Singapore’s official languages

– English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. It also promotes Singapore and Asian literature while introducing famous authors, poets and playwrights to the Singapore audience. Panels, readings and performances will be spread over various venues in the Bras Basah/Bugis district.

Sundown Festival 2013 (16 November) The Sundown Festival brings together artists, bands and fans from all over the region. Taking place at the F1 Pit Area on Marina Promenade, this year’s edition features performances by singers and musicians from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong.

Affordable Art Fair (21 – 24 November) Now in its fourth year, the Singapore edition of the Affordable Art Fair continues to help satisfy the Asian appetite for contemporary art, and raise the profile of new upcoming artists from across the globe, by offering paintings, prints, sculptures and photography at reasonable prices. It will be held at the F1 Pit Building.

DINING Oktoberfest Asia 2013 (16 – 19 October) This celebrates Germany’s famous beer festival at Marina at Keppel Bay. Under an air-conditioned marquee, beer fans and revellers can enjoy fine Bavarian brews, traditional German cuisine like pork knuckles, and live entertainment such as iconic German band The Original Hofbräuhaus Show and stand-up comedy acts.

Singapore Wine Fiesta (31 October – 3 November) Now on its sixth year, Singapore’s biggest outdoor wine fair is back at Customs House. There will be over 60 winemakers and experts, and wines from over 200 labels around the world. There will also be masterclasses and behind-the-scenes tours with award-winning Australian sommelier Daniel Sims.

Asian Masters (November) Presenting the best in Asian cuisine, culture and living, Asian Masters is a month-long multi-venue gastronomy festival showcasing all things culinary, with gourmet specialities by master chefs, cooking demonstrations, workshops, wine dinners, tastings as well as lifestyle events that revolve around fashion and performing and visual arts.

CULTURAL Hari Raya Haji Celebrations in Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam (15 October) While Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s act of sacrifice, there will also be bustling bazaars and dazzling local decorations in the Malay-Muslim enclaves of Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam.

Deepavali Celebrations in Little India (3 November) During this important holiday in the Hindu calendar, the temples and streets in Little India are brightly lit and decorated, with cultural street performances and street bazaars selling handicrafts, traditional Indian sweets and clothes. Celebrations include a Deepavali Countdown Concert 2013 on November 2.

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

It is no wonder tourists and locals alike are awestruck every September when the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix (F1) comes to town. After all, the country takes on a carnival-like atmosphere, fuelled by the roar of high-octane racecar engines, the celebrities who attend the event, the dazzling lights of a night race, as well as the myriad entertainment and lifestyle options that are available during this time.

Amidst all this excitement and buzz, what goes unnoticed is the mechanics, as most people may not realise the enormity and scale of this event. Behind the night race is a well-oiled machine that ensures everything goes according to plan.

Keeping It Fresh Every year, the challenge lies in keeping the event fresh with new elements to attract locals and visitors so as to continue surpassing expectations. In its sixth year of supporting the race, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), together with the race promoter, Singapore GP Pte Ltd (SGP), has focused on reinforcing Singapore’s competitive advantage to retain our edge over the other F1 races.

Behind the Racetracks: How Does Singapore Do It? With five years of race organisation experience under our belt, Singapore has streamlined operations, improved processes, minimised disruptions to the general public, and enhanced the overall experience of the race.

The key success ingredient is the competitive advantage derived from the seamless inter-agency governmental coordination and collaboration between the Singapore Government and the private sector.

STB is the government’s lead agency and facilitator for the entire endeavour, from planning to execution. For example, STB works with the Singapore Land Authority to ensure all land used for the race is available, the Land Transport Authority to facilitate the relevant road closures, road infrastructure and public transport requirements for the event and the Singapore Police Force who handles security issues on and off track. STB also works

WHAT’S UP, SINGAPORE? – FEATURES

Mounting a big international event like the Formula One Grand Prix requires coordination on a grand scale. How does Singapore do it? As Singapore hosts the race for the 6th time, we take a peek behind the scenes of this monumental undertaking.

closely with SGP and engages relevant stakeholders to deliver a successful sporting event.

Planning spans one year and involves a dedicated team within STB’s F1 & Sports Division. Coined the F1 team, this team is responsible for all aspects of STB’s race support including coordination with various internal divisions on marketing, communications, and stakeholder management for the race.

In the lead-up to F1, another STB team is heavily involved in bringing the race experience and race-themed events beyond the circuit. The Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) team plays the critical role of curating an electrifying season of top-notch lifestyle events comprising music performances, dance parties, entertainment and dining options, so that visitors and locals alike are treated to a plethora of exciting events over the week leading up to the race. The GPSS team also brings together event organisers and businesses to collaborate, innovate and testbed concepts, thereby translating into commercial benefits for the tourism industries and local community at large.

There is no denying that the race has grown in stature since its debut in 2008 and the event has profiled Singapore well on the international stage. The successful hosting of the race is due in a large part to the support by Singaporeans and local communities. Supported by STB, SGP has spearheaded their “Rev Up Singapore!” campaign to give more back to local communities. These include exciting programmes and activities to rally locals around the race and also to build awareness of Formula One throughout the year.

See You Next Year for Another Exciting Race!This passion, dedication and commitment from all parties to deliver a better experience with each passing year can only bode well for the upcoming races. So whether you are a race fan or not, a visitor or a resident, you can safely anticipate exciting years ahead with a tremendous range of experiences to tempt every palate as race cars come to Singapore for yet another go around on Singapore’s night race track.

WS

9 – Sep/Oct 2013

Behind The Scenes at the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

This passion, dedication and commitment from all parties to deliver a better experience with each passing year can only bode well for the upcoming races.

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

Five Years of GPSS – What’s Next?

WS WHAT’S UP, SINGAPORE? – FEATURES

11 – Issue 01

Singapore has played host to the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix (F1) for five years and millions around the world have been awed by the broadcast of a brilliantly lit night street circuit juxtaposed against an impressive skyline. Sharing in the limelight has been Grand Prix Singapore Season (GPSS), an all-out, all-around entertainment and lifestyle experience pioneered by Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to add even more buzz beyond the race itself. With the F1 race at its centre, GPSS has opened up new and innovative partnership opportunities with stakeholders and consistently made headlines with world-class entertainment and diverse lifestyle offerings for both locals and tourists.

Each passing year brings forth new challenges. Foremost of these, will be whether stakeholders are able to offer fresh and relevant experiences to the public. How has it been for stakeholders this year? Is there enough of the consumer pie to go around? We ask industry players what they’re doing differently this year to keep the season fresh and appealing to both international visitors and locals.

All 84,317 F1 tickets were sold out in 2012, a fact that proves Singapore has taken seamlessly to the F1 race and GPSS as a constant in the calendar of events, receiving strong local support. GPSS is a time when, “Visitor numbers are at record highs, hotels are all packed and there are a lot of lifestyle enthusiasts looking to be entertained,” – locals included, says Robbie Hoyes-Cock, Managing Director at The Podium Lounge.

Industry partners play on this festival atmosphere on their terms to take advantage of what GPSS has to offer, and this does not apply solely to the areas around the street circuit. Steven Goh, Executive Director of Orchard Road Business Association was quoted in 2012 as saying he “…can’t imagine a September retail cycle without the Grand Prix Singapore Season, because traditionally September is a low season for retailers.”

Operational cost aside, proximity to the racetrack has its drawbacks and advantages. On one hand,

racetrack infrastructure continues to cause general disruption to business operations be it a hotel, retail store or restaurant. On the other, armed with five years of GPSS experience, industry partners can plan and adjust their marketing strategies accordingly. Raj Datwani of Bacchanalia

is optimistic, believing that the restaurants situated by the track will benefit from “a spike

in tourist traffic.”

The rise of social mediaThis year marks the first time that industry partners are making

use of social media more rigorously. Through channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, industry partners

can connect with fans directly and throughout the year. It allows them to manage expectations

and generate international sales prior to the event. According to Hoyes-Cock, by the time the event reaches tourists through the GPSS campaign, the club is usually “already sold out [on the] very limited (1,000) tickets per night and VIP tables.”

More creative strategies and partnerships

Forging mutually beneficial partnerships has also helped in increasing visibility. According to

Olga Titarenko of Amber Lounge, the company uses physical strategies (street banners along Orchard Road) but

working with STB this year has allowed them to create a stronger positive public impression.

For Bacchanalia, GPSS has provided management with the opportunity to take the popular Bacchanalia Brunch Series to a “bigger scale, with international guest DJs headlining the event”.

Promoting a strong local flavourSingapore has been touted as the “Monaco of

the East” but as far as organisers and partners are concerned, local flavour at GPSS remains

strong through showcasing Singaporean talent and including all Singaporeans. For instance, GPSS ensures

that there is street and hawker food on festival grounds to add to the local flavour. This year, Amber Lounge has

Singaporean haute couture designer Frederick Lee presenting his couture collection at Amber

Lounge Fashion with the runway show choreographed by fashion celebrity, Daniel Boey. The Podium Lounge is also offering more affordable tickets, starting at a decent S$138. Will GPSS lose its magic? With the uniqueness of Singapore’s night race and

an ongoing adrenaline-filled season, not a chance. If anything, it’s becoming even

livelier as more tourism players get into the exciting mix, adding to the existing experiences

on offer with their own innovative concepts.

“Visitor numbers are at record highs, hotels are all packed and there are a lot of lifestyle enthusiasts looking to be entertained.” – Robbie Hoyes-Cock, Managing

Director, The Podium Lounge

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

The annual Tourism Industry Conference is a platform for Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to engage and network with industry partners across the entire tourism sector including the media, and to share key priorities and initiatives, tourism trends and future-scaping. S. Iswaran, Second Minister, Home Affairs and Trade & Industry opened the conference at the Marina Bay Sands Singapore with Chief Executive of STB Lionel Yeo going in depth with salient trends and achieving Quality Tourism growth.

The industry remains a key economic driver for Singapore, with second tranche investments reaching S$905 million. Second Minister Iswaran emphasised that the public and private tourism sectors need to work together amidst strong regional competition for the tourism pie. He identified some key trends as follows:

1. Growth opportunities accompany the increasing competition in the tourism industry in Asia. These can be addressed through industry-wide repositioning towards quality yield-driven tourism.

2. Growth opportunities for sustainable high value growth is in the creation of programming and unique content, or “software”, in both lifestyle and business offerings.

3. Making growth count for all Singaporeans by partnering with industry stakeholders to translate the growth achieved through tourism into more diverse and higher value job opportunities.

The way forward is through “quality yield-driven tourism”, which Second Minister Iswaran described as the tourism “software” essential in helping Singapore to differentiate itself from competition and to cope with limitations in capital, land and labour. This is also what CE Lionel Yeo has coined as Quality Tourism. For this to succeed, STB will firstly, continue to take the helm in developing the tourism sector into a key driver of economic growth for Singapore. Secondly, productive and innovative industries and firms should be developed such that good jobs can be created for Singaporeans. Lastly, STB will continue to nurture public engagement and participation alongside

Highlights from Tourism Industry Conference 2013

WHAT’S UP, SINGAPORE? – POST EVENTS

such developments because every Singaporean is a potential advocate for tourism.

STB will pursue four strategies and approaches in the journey towards achieving quality tourism growth:

1Adopting a yield-driven marketing approach that includes better management of portfolios, adoption of differentiated marketing strategies, having a visitor-centric

perspective and partnership-oriented stance with like-minded industry partners.

2 Enhancing destination attractiveness through hardware and software. Hardware refers to infrastructural developments while software refers to the development of

compelling content and differentiated experiences.

3 Supporting industry competitiveness through building workforce capabilities and capacities, encouraging innovation, technology, enhancing service capabilities and

providing a pro-business regulatory framework.

4 Building local engagement, where STB will continue to harness local ideas and energies for tourism efforts while working closely with industry and community stakeholders

to ensure that the business activities which support tourism can thrive alongside the local communities.

There is still growth to be had as Singapore is poised to benefit from the growth in Asia. Strong collaboration between STB and tourism industry partners coupled with a keen spirit of innovation is critical for Singapore’s tourism sector to tap on the opportunities in this next phase on tourism growth and navigate the challenges that loom ahead.

For Minister S. Iswaran’s Opening Speech and Navigating the Next Phase of Tourism Growth – Tourism Industry Conference 2013 Discussion Paper, please click here.

WS

13 – Sep/Oct 2013

OTHER HAPPENINGS IN 2013

FIRST HALF FESTIVITIESIt’s been quite a year so far, as the first half of 2013 was filled with exciting events. Here’s a roundup of what we’ve been celebrating, starting from the most recent.

GREAT SINGAPORE SALEFrom 31 May to 28 July 2013, shoppers were treated to island-wide deals and discounts. Highlights included previous favourites like The GSS Home Makeover.

AUDI FASHION FESTIVALThe fifth edition of Singapore’s annual premier fashion event was held at the Tent @ Marina Promenade on 15 – 19 May 2013. Internationally renowned designers Carolina Herrera and Hussein Chalayan headlined AFF, alongside local designers Ashley Isham and Raoul, as well as other famous and upcoming designers.

BLUEPRINT TRADE SHOW More than 160 local and international emerging designer labels showed their Pre-Spring 2014 collections at the Blueprint Trade Show held on 16 – 17 May 2013 at the F1 Pit Building. This is the fourth edition of this annual trade event under Asia Fashion Exchange.

WORLD GOURMET SUMMIT On 16 – 26 April 2013, Singapore hosted the World Gourmet Series, which included the

17th annual epicurean summit, Asia’s most prestigious culinary event among a host of

other highly anticipated activities. A stellar lineup of

chefs flew in from all over the world for the event.

TIMBRE ROCK & ROOTS In its fourth year and jointly organised by Timbre Music and Bluesfest, this two-day

blues and roots festival brought to Singapore

world-class musicians and Grammy Award winners

and nominees, like Rufus Wainwright and Bonnie Raitt.

ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS

AWARDS Created by the same

people behind World’s 50 Best, the inaugural Asia’s 50

Best Restaurants Awards was a celebration of

Asia’s acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, gourmands and industry experts. The event served as an excellent platform

for local stakeholders in the culinary and dining

industry to network with the best in Asia and facilitated

knowledge exchange on capability development of Singapore’s culinary scene.

ART STAGE The only international

art fair with a special focus on Southeast Asia, Art Stage

Singapore brought together leading artists, galleries,

buyers and collectors. The art fair brought in 40,500 visitors and featured 131 galleries during its run on 16 – 19 January 2013 at Marina Bay Sands.

SEPTEMBER • Grand Prix Season Singapore• Formula 1 SingTel Singapore

Grand Prix• International Green Building

Conference (IGBC 2013) • Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia 2013

AUGUST • National Day Parade • 79th World Library &

Information Congress

JULY • Singapore Food Festival• Singapore Garden Festival • Hari Raya Light-Up

JUNE• World Street Food Congress• Great Singapore Sale • CommunicAsia 2013• Broadcast Asia 2013• World Vaccine Congress

Asia 2013

MAY • Asia Fashion Exchange • Audi Fashion Festival• The Collectors Show:

Weight of History • Social Star Awards • The Singapore Social

APRIL • Fashion Steps Out @ Orchard • World Gourmet Summit • Savour • Tourism Industry

Conference 2013• Singapore Maritime Week • Sea Asia• Boat Asia• Singapore Yacht Show

MARCH • Mosaic Music Festival • Timbre Rock & Roots

FEBRUARY • Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

Awards Ceremony • HSBC Women’s Championships • Chinese New Year Celebrations• Sentosa Flower Festival

JANUARY • St Jerome’s Laneway Festival • Art Stage Singapore +

Singapore Art Season • M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

Funding for Tourism Growth

Forging strong collaborations amongst tourism industry players is vital in ensuring success in the on-going journey towards Quality Tourism. STB offers different types of financial grants to assist tourism industry partners. Here are some of the schemes that you can tap on.

Find out how Singapore Tourism Board (STB) can help you in developing new tourism ideas.

I N D U S T RY A S S I S TA N C E

1 KICKSTART FUND Launched this year, the S$5 million Kickstart Fund is a financial assistance and mentorship scheme that supports

the creation and testing of innovative lifestyle events and concepts with strong tourism potential. Businesses, companies, and associations exploring ideas, such as live events, pop-up stores, art walks and culinary tours, can apply for this grant.

The scheme provides successful grant applicants with funding for up to 50 per cent of qualifying costs, as well as access to business incubator programmes in which experienced industry leaders will serve as mentors during project execution.

The Kickstart Fund is open for applications quarterly, with the second cycle lasting from 2 to 30 September. Click here.

2 LEISURE EVENTS FUN To improve Singapore’s standing as a compelling leisure destination, the Leisure Events Fund is geared towards

supporting Singapore-based businesses in the creation and delivery of quality events. These events should in turn also enhance the profile of key precincts such as Orchard Road and Chinatown, drive visitor spend and contribute towards the development of key tourism sectors (arts, entertainment, sports, retail and dining).

Successful grant applicants will receive funding of up to 50 per cent of the qualifying costs.

For more information on the Leisure Events Fund, click here.

3 CRUISE DEVELOPMENT FUND The Cruise Development Fund aims to grow Singapore’s cruise industry and maximise economic returns arising

from cruise tourism to Singapore. The scheme funds the homeporting of new cruise ships or extension in deployments of existing homeported cruise ships out of Singapore.

Open to Singapore-registered and non-Singapore-registered cruise companies, the scheme will allow cruise lines to develop distribution channels in key source markets and establish successful and sustainable deployments out of Singapore. Successful applicants will be awarded funding support based on a percentage of qualifying costs.

For more information on the Cruise Development Fund, click here.

2

3

INDUSTRY UPDATESIU

15 – Sep/Oct 2013

The Makings of a Great Singapore ExperienceWhat makes the Singapore tourism experience compelling? Beyond the city’s excellent infrastructure and exciting attractions, at the heart of our tourism industry are our people – those who are committed to delivering a holistic and memorable customer experience. The Singapore Experience Awards was incepted in 2009 as a celebration of these inspiring individuals and organisations, which have pushed the envelope in experience delivery. Their dedication to constantly innovate and create distinctive and compelling Singapore experiences has been instrumental in creating our dynamic tourism landscape.

The extensive and commendable judging panel comprises local and overseas representatives who are professionals in their respective fields. We definitely don’t envy their arduous task for having to evaluate and assess the nominees. So how do they make their decisions? We speak to three judges, who have reprised their roles this year for their thoughts and considerations for 2013’s nominees.

OUR JUDGES:• Mr Sacha Coles Director ASPECT Studios - Landscape

Architecture and Urban Design • Dr Yek Tiew Ming Principal ITE College West• Mr Nicholas Yeo Owner T.K. Yeo Pte Ltd

How do you feel about 2013’s nominees? Were they as you expected or were there any who surprised you? Why so? Sasha Coles (SC): What was surprising was that most of the articles focused equally on the appreciation of Singapore’s street-life experiences as well as the internationally recognised experiences such as Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands. Equally impressive were the number of articles that described Singapore’s rapid economic, environmental and cultural development

as a point of difference and how strategic government direction can quickly change the quality of life for both visitors and locals for the better.

Yek Tiew Ming (YTM): The nominees I’ve met were all excellent at what they do – professional, passionate, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile in delivery of their services. All of them were as I expected – shining service ambassadors for Singapore.

Nicholas Yeo (NY): The nominees were outstanding. There was a varied manner of presentation, and I enjoyed the creativity in this respect.

What were your top three considerations before you decided on a winner? SC: For me, the nominee must show a deep understanding of the place – of the social, cultural, and economic forces that have shaped the city. The nominees must articulate how their entry has brought innovative approach to the development of Singapore. Finally, the quality of the nomination – the way it was written and described is highly important in making a decision on the winner.

YTM: Mine would be people – the ones delivering the services, passion, knowledge, etc.; people – those receiving the services. I take into consideration their experience of the service; and last, people – the other people in our society. How organisations and individuals take care of people in our society who may not be able to afford the services.

In what aspects or fields can Singapore continue to make her tourism experience a compelling one for visitors? SC: The things that come to mind immediately are the richness of the food experience, and the concept of the Garden City. Both of these are attractive on a world scale and will continue to draw tourism from the range of events and experiences that flow from these two areas.

YTM: I believe if Singapore wants to continue to make her tourism experience

a compelling one for visitors, we must continue to improve the service quality and delivery by all our service ambassadors.

NY: I see two main pillars in Singapore’s tourism: Modern architectural landmarks and cultural and historical districts. Examples of modern architectural landmarks are the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay, the cantilevered pool in Marina Bay Sands, both integrated resorts, etc. For the cultural districts, we need to continue reinventing the charming spaces found in these districts. So far, this strategy has worked – tourism data has strengthened over the years, and elevated Singapore’s status on a global scale. Singapore has to also carefully identify new pockets and niches within the tourism. Equally important, we should continue to strive for excellence in the soft aspects – like better service.

In your opinion, what is the future of tourism like? What is the next frontier of tourism to you?SC: The future of tourism must be in creating an authentic experience, one that clearly communicates the unique personality of place. It is the uniqueness of experience that needs to be leveraged and to my mind this will be the deciding factor for attracting tourism in the future. 

YTM: I think the frontier of tourism for Singapore would be to ensure that the country is attractive to tourists as a whole because we are a vibrant, efficient, happening and interesting city, not just some tourist spots.

NY: There are endless possibilities in this sector; we are all stakeholders to a large extent – developers, service providers, the government and the statutory boards. The next frontier would depend on how each of us contributes in the most appropriate way that we can.

I N D U S T RY U P G R A D I N G

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

GEMS Up and Singapore Service Excellence Medallion

Great service delivery plays a critical role in the tourism industry and helps up the ante on raising Singapore’s competitiveness.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is part of a multi-agency effort to publicly recognise good service as well as develop service capabilities within the sector.

One of the ways in which good service is recognised is through the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion. Introduced in 2011, the Medallion is the first of its kind in Singapore and is synonymous with the epitome of excellent service. The Medallion recognises achievements by individuals and organisations in inspiring and sustaining a culture of service excellence.

For 2012, the recipients of this prestigious honour were:

The Singapore Zoo (Organisation Medallion Award) – The attraction won for its consistent and superior service through establishing a clear strategy to achieve high levels of guest satisfaction. It introduced structured training, with service excellence being a key segment, to develop its staff to their fullest potential. The attraction’s constant pursuit of product innovation

also differentiates it from the competition by introducing interactive, multisensory and meaningful wildlife experiences for its guests.

Ms Herdawati bte Masor (Service Professional Award) – A shop manager with Wing Tai Clothing for more than four years, Ms Herdawati, 33, was recognised for her initiative, excellent product knowledge and customer service. Passionate about service, the service industry veteran has demonstrated the flexibility to manage a diverse range of customers with differing needs across Wing Tai’s stores.

Ms Agnes Dass (Service Professional Award) – A nurse for more than 30 years, Ms Dass, 48, believes in a “holistic” approach to caring – not only for patients, but the patients’ relatives. She responds to every call of duty with pride by going the extra mile for patients, and inspiring colleagues towards service excellence.

Mr Milton Toh Hong Giap (Service Champion) – A deputy general manager with Brother International, Mr Toh, 37, was the lead in the company’s customer-centric initiative (CCI) movement and has also championed initiatives in the company like service excellence training

and the development of a Customer Relationship Management system.

Four commendation awards were also given to the following organisations to recognise their achievements in each of the service attributes:

• Wing Tai Retail – SERVICE LEADERSHIP

• DFS Galleria – PEOPLE PRACTICES

• Brother International – SERVICE INNOVATION

• Mount Elizabeth Hospital – CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

The Singapore Service Excellence Medallion is organised by the agencies of the national Go the Extra Mile for Service (GEMS Up) movement – Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University, National Trades Union Congress, Singapore Workforce Development Agency, SPRING Singapore and STB.

Launched in 2005, GEMS Up aims to encourage Singaporeans to play their part in improving service levels and working towards achieving an excellent service culture in Singapore. GEMS Up is the second phase of this national movement.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Singapore Service Excellence Medallion winners with DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Awards Ceremony

IU

17 – Sep/Oct 2013

I N D U S T RY U P G R A D I N G

Sectoral Productivity Call for Collaboration

Attractions and Experience Development Series

The Sectoral Productivity Call for Collaboration (CFC) is a multi-agency effort led by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to promote adoption of infocomm technologies (ICT) for operational and productivity improvements. This S$42 million funding pool is open to proposals from any business sector, as long as the proposed technology solutions demonstrate significant productivity benefits and lead to adoption across the sector.

As part of the strategy to support our industries’ competitiveness towards quality tourism and sustainable yield-driven growth, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is supporting the CFC by calling for businesses in the tourism sector to come together with their IT service providers to submit proposals for funding of technology solutions they wish to adopt or develop. Of special note are the travel agent, hotel and attractions industries, where there are strong growth opportunities to be seized.

For the travel agent industry, there is potential for integrated Travel Agent Management Platforms that automate back-end processes and operations in areas such as inventory and reservation management and introduce eCommerce functionality. This can help travel agents reduce manpower reliance and better meet the needs of customers by enabling online transactions, prompt responses to customers’ enquiries and tracking and analysis of customer purchase patterns and preferences.

Similarly for the hotel industry, self-service technologies are untapped opportunities in Singapore. The concept of self-service, in areas such as check-in and F&B, is becoming more common and hotels abroad are reaping the benefits of reduced manpower costs and increased sales. As consumers become more technologically savvy and demand greater efficiency, there is room for local stakeholders to look at providing options for self-service check-ins as a way to meet their needs.

While the attractions industry is constantly redesigning and innovating to deliver fresh experiences, their efforts can be supported by a suite of digital platforms to deliver targeted and contextualised marketing content. Such platforms can take the form of promotion and sales management systems for attraction owners or trip planning modules for prospective tourists.

These are examples of technology solutions that tourism businesses and IT vendors can explore for this CFC. The closing date for the submission of proposals for the CFC is 14 October 2013. For more information or to register your interest in the participation of this CFC, please click here.

To enhance the experience creation capabilities of the local attractions industry, STB has partnered with the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to create the Attractions and Experience Development Series.

The series aims to help the industry sustain revenue growth through the rejuvenation of visitor experiences and stay competitive by teaching them new ways of creating and delivering experiences, storytelling, and developing business models that drive quality experiences. Through lectures, hands-on activities and in-depth discussions facilitated by leading attraction specialists and operators, participants explore key topics such as how to create a story, the elements of a good story and how new relevant revenue channels can be created. The first of the series was held last 9-10 July 2013 and attracted around 150 participants from the industry.

Participants will be awarded a Series Certificate of Completion jointly endorsed by ASA, STB and WDA once they complete all five seminars and at least three of four masterclasses. The ongoing series will last until March 2014.

The Attractions and Experience Development Series is the first initiative under the Attractions Industry Productivity Roadmap.

Attractions Industry Experience Creation Masterclass SeriesTRACK 1: Experience Creation-Focused Seminars and MasterclassesTOPIC : Attraction hosting and guidingSeminar : 5 November, 9am - 1pmMasterclass : 6 November, 9am - 5pmSpeakers and facilitators : Lower East Side Tenement Museum and

Turnstile Tours

TRACK 2: Business Sustainability-Focused SeminarsTOPIC : The evolving attractions’ business model

– How have attractions’ business models evolved? How to make them work?

Seminar : January 2014 Speaker and facilitator : Kidzania

TOPIC : Financing and valuing the business model – Valuing and financing the business; creating new business streams

Seminar : March 2014 (tentative)Speaker and facilitator : ECA International (TBC)

Who should attend:• Attractions owners and CEOs• Thematic attractions developers and investors• Attractions’ curators, designers and builders who are

responsible for the presentation of the attractions’ contents to their guests

• Event creators and planners in tourism attractions and leisure business sectors

For updates and more information regarding our Attractions Development Series, please send us an email at secretariat2@singapore-attractions.com.

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

INDONESIA 2,085CHINA 1,515MALAYSIA 878AUSTRALIA 763INDIA 670JAPAN 554PHILIPPINES 487USA 355HONG KONG SAR 355THAILAND 346SOUTH KOREA 345UK 331VIETNAM 287TAIWAN 221GERMANY 189

INDONESIA 2,321CHINA 1,903JAPAN 843AUSTRALIA 787INDIA 717MALAYSIA 677USA 592THAILAND 508PHILIPPINES 460HONG KONG SAR 405REST OF THE WORLD 13,331

STB BULLETIN

TOURISM RECEIPTS AND INTERNATIONAL VISITOR ARRIVALS, 2012 FORECAST

TOP 15 MARKETS FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITOR ARRIVALS (IN THOUSANDS), JAN – SEP 2012

TOP 10 MARKETS FOR TOURISM RECEIPTS (IN S$ MILLION), JAN – SEP 2012

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

International Visitor Arrivals (million)

Tourism Receipts (S$ billion)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

International Visitor Arrivals (million)�

Tourism Receipts (S$ billion)

2012E'

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

SB

Source: Navigating the Next Phase of Tourism Growth – Tourism Industry Conference 2013 Discussion Paper

Source: Tourism Performance Report – Quarter 3 2012, page 5, chart 6

Source: Tourism Performance Report – Quarter 3 2012, page 4, chart 4

19 – Sep/Oct 2013

6.6%Tourist

Receipts

Singapore Tourism Performance 3Q 2012Last year was a good one for Singapore tourism. We welcomed some 14.4 million international visitors and generated S$23 billion in tourism receipts. Both were record numbers and is a continuation of the strong performance the city has witnessed

TO U R I S M S TAT S A N D F I G U R ES

The latest statistics on Singapore’s tourism industry at a glance.

in the last few years. Here is a summary of some key statistics on tourism receipts and international visitor arrivals for 3Q 2012. For more details, you can read the Tourism Performance Report — Quarter Three (Q3) 2012 here.

COMPOUNDED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, 2002–2012

TOURISM RECEIPTS BY MAJOR COMPONENTS (JAN-SEP 2012)

20%

10% 22%

22%

22%Shopping

Food & Beverage Sightseeing & Entertainment(including attractions, gaming and other events)

Other TR Components(including expenditure on airfares, port taxes, local transportation, business, medical,

education and transit visitors)

Accommodation

10%International

Visitor Arrivals

Source: Navigating the Next Phase of Tourism Growth – Tourism Industry Conference 2013 Discussion Paper Source: Tourism Performance Report – Quarter 3 2012, page 4, chart 3

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD – P@SSPORT

Tourism Court 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729T +65 6736 6622F +65 6734 7223www.stb.gov.sg

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD

DISCLAIMERP@SSPORT is a publication by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). All information is correct at time of printing. Articles may not be reproduced without STB’s permission.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Singapore Toursim Board (STB), Bi Chonglei (page 11), Bacchanalia (page 12), The Podium Lounge (page 12), World Gourmet Summit 2013 (page 13), William Reed Business Media (page 13), Mercury Marketing & Communications (page 13), Dawn Chua (page 13), World Street Food Congress (page 13), Orchard Road Business Association (page 15), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (page 15), Singapore Cruise centre (page 15).