|
|
January 2006 | |
|
A Word from the STB's Deputy Chairman & Chief Executive
Welcome to the first issue of P@SSPORT for 2006.
Singapore’s tourism industry performed well in 2005. We welcomed more than 785,000 visitors in November, registering a 4.4% growth over the same period a year ago. In tandem with this, November also saw positive results for the hospitality industry. The Average Occupancy Rate (AOR) for hotels was estimated to have reached 87% in November, a 3 percentage point increase over November 2004. The Average Room Rate (ARR) has also improved from S$123 to S$145 for the same period.
In 2005, we are likely to exceed our target of 8.9 million visitor arrivals, achieving yet another record high. We are also likely to exceed our target of S$10.4 billion in tourism receipts. More details of the tourism sector performance for 2005 will be shared once we have completed compiling the full-year results.
December also saw new developments in the hospitality industry with the opening of Novotel Clarke Quay and the groundbreaking ceremony for Boutique Hotel @ Tiong Bahru. The New Majestic Hotel is also slated to open later this month. These are in addition to other hotel developments already in the pipeline, such as the St. Regis Hotel, Airport Hotel and other hotels on Sentosa island. These developments reflect the confidence hotel owners and developers have in our tourism industry.
At the STB, we believe that for the tourism sector to meet the Tourism 2015 goals of tripling tourism receipts to S$30 billion and doubling visitor arrivals to 17 millions, we will not just need new game-changing tourism products; we will also need to increase the supply of hotel rooms and a better mix of accommodation that will meet the needs of our visitors. The STB will continue to provide market data to facilitate business decisions in this area.
Even as we end 2005 on a positive note, we should train our sights on the year ahead. We have many exciting things happening for the tourism sector in 2006. These include the hosting of the annual Board of Governors meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, the Request for Proposals for the integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa, and enhancing our year-round calendar of signature events, among many other initiatives. The BTMICE group is also looking at implementing major initiatives, including an extensive marketing campaign to attract a greater number of strategic business events and significantly grow the number of business and MICE travellers to Singapore. We will be revealing more details in the coming months.
To all our local and overseas partners, thank you very much for your strong support in 2005 and we look forward to working ever more closely with you in 2006 so as to achieve our Tourism 2015 goals together.
Finally, as the Chinese New Year is also round the corner, do take time to enjoy the Chinese New Year Chun Jie celebrations.
Meanwhile, do continue to send us your feedback and suggestions.
Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Lim Neo Chian | |
 |
| |
|
The STB (HQ) Appoints Burson-Marsteller for Public Relations Consultancy Services
Burson-Marsteller (S.E.A) Pte Ltd has been appointed to provide public relations consultancy services to the STB (HQ) with effect from 1 January 2006.
 |
|
|
 |
 |
Ministry of Sound Opens
Britain’s legendary dance club, Ministry of Sound (MoS), opens its doors in Singapore. At approximately 40,000 square feet, the Singapore club will be the biggest MoS club worldwide.
|
|
 |
Stories of Overseas Chinese at Hua Song Museum
The Hua Song Museum, the first museum dedicated to the story of all overseas Chinese around the world is now open.
|
|
|
 |
New Hotel Developments
December saw the groundbreaking ceremony for Boutique Hotel @ Tiong Bahru and the official opening of Novotel Clarke Quay. Come late January, Singapore will see the opening of another unique hotel, the New Majestic Hotel.
|
|
|
|
 |
Launch of Technical Reference on Security Standards
A new national standard for hotel security was launched on 5 December to guide hotels to plan, design and implement their own security system. Called the Technical Reference (TR) for Security Management System for Hotels, it is the first such standard on hotel security management in the world.
|
|
|
|
Launch of the Tender for the Singapore Sports Hub
Singapore's goal to be the preferred venue for premium sports and entertainment events in the region gets a step closer with the launch of the tender for the Singapore Sports Hub on 15 December.
|
| |
|
 |
Singapore Wins Bid to Host Two Major Tradeshows
Singapore’s exhibitions industry receives a boost with the staging of two major tradeshows here in 2007 and 2008.
|
|
|
 |
Singapore Wins More Business Accolades
For the fifth year running, Asian readers of TIME Magazine have again voted Singapore their Favourite Business City. Singapore’s MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions) facilities were also voted the best in Asia for the second year running. Singapore has also outpolled its regional rivals and won the Best City Destination for CEI Events.
|
|
|
 |
Multi-Lingual Tourist Sign System
The STB is calling out to more tourism establishments, attractions and hotels to incorporate multi-lingual signage and communication tools in their premises and facilities.
|
 |
New Visitor Information Centre at Chinatown Heritage Centre
Opened since 16 December, the Visitor Information Centre at Chinatown Heritage Centre will enhance visitors’ experiences in Chinatown and provide them primarily with information about the ethnic enclave, such as its many attractions and the best places to eat and shop.
|
|
World Tourism Organisation is now UNWTO
To avoid the frequent confusion between the two WTOs – World Tourism Organisation and the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation, the General Assembly has approved the addition of the letters UN (for United Nations) to the start of the acronym for the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in English and in Russian.
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
Leisure Events
Join in the festive atmosphere in Chinatown as Singapore prepares to welcome the Year of the Dog. Singapore’s Chinese New Year Chun Jie (Spring Festival) Celebrations is one of Asia’s most vibrant and exciting. Cheer on the Singapore Team when the "Uniquely Singapore" yacht participating in the Clipper Round-the-World Race makes a stop-over in Singapore, or join in the rock music festival at Sembawang. Don't miss the "Sentosa Flowers 2006", a unique floral and botanical extravaganza, on the tropical resort island of Sentosa.
Business Events
The business events calendar for 2006 begins with conferences and forums, such as the 4th Asia Pacific Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop and Conference, NanoSingapore 2006, IE Forum and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting.
In-market Activities
In January, SingaporeMedicine and Singapore Education will be holding roadshows and participating in conferences and fairs in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Dubai. The ASEAN Tourism Forum and Travex will be held in the Philippines, and the STB Sydney will be participating in the Melbourne Flight Centre Travel Expo and Travelworld Newcastle Holiday & Travel Show.
|
For information on more events, do visit the STB's other websites:
| |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
The STB publishes research and statistics for the tourism industry.
For more research reports, please visit the Tourism Resource Centre.
| | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
This e-mail and its attachments(s), if any ("communication")
may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you should not use, disclose,
copy, distribute or deliver this communication in whole or in part to anyone.
Kindly notify us of the error and delete it (including copies) immediately.
Thank you.
|
|
