Tourism, A Lucrative Industry In Singapore

Singapores visitor arrivals registered 17.3% growth to reach 928

,000 in March 2010, the highest ever recorded in the month of March. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects visitor arrivals to reach 11.5 to 12.5 million and and has also targetted S$17.5 S$18.5 billion as tourism receipts for 2010. The figures certainly dont seem unachievable going by current trends and statistics. Two factors have contributed to the recent boom in Singapores tourism industry, a) improved economic conditions across Asia-Pacific, which in turn has led to improved travel sentiments and b) the opening of Singapores Integrated Resorts.

An interesting aspect of Singapores successful hospitality and tourism industry is the impact it has had in terms of job creation and opening up of business opportunities in allied sectors. Commenting on the job opportunities created by the IRs, Leong Wai Ho, an economist with Barclays Capital is believed to have said,

Given that the IRs began hiring well before the opening of the properties, they clearly had a strong role to play in pushing down unemployment to 2.1 per cent.

A number of businesses are reaping the benefits of higher tourist arrivals and the setting up of the IRs, be it transportation service companies, furniture providers, F&B establishments, retail stores, travel agencies or recruitment firms. According to a recent news report, even business consultancies are hoping to cash in on visiting business tycoons who might be interested in setting up a business here. According to a NYT article, Singapore attracted three million business travelers in 2008 alone. Although they only accounted for 30% of all visitors, they represented 40% of total tourist spending, which roughly translates into S$6 billion. According to Michael Leven, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands,

"Everybody wants the businessmen. Theyre really not individual tourists but groups traveling around, and they are great economic generators"

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) anticipates international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% in 2010, with Asia taking the lead. Singapores tourism industry outlook is positive for the medium to long term and presents countless business opportunities for smart-minded entrepreneurs.

by: Roger Lee

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