Singapore expects strong growth for tourism sector in 2010

Mar 5, 2010, 5:48 GMT

Singapore - Singapore on Friday said it expected strong growth for its tourism sector in 2010, after the industry was hit hard last year as visitors stayed away due to the global downturn and the H1N1 flu outbreak.

Visitor arrivals in 2010 were forecast to reach between 11.5 and 12.5 million, up 19 to 29 per cent from a year earlier, tourism board chief executive Aw Kah Peng said.

Tourism revenues were expected to jump between 41 and 49 per cent compared to last year, reaching 17.5 to 18.5 billion Singapore dollars (12.5 to 13.2 billion US dollars) in 2010, Aw told a conference on tourism.

These goals were 'hugely, hugely ambitious,' she added.

Hopes for Singapore's tourism sector are riding on two new multibillion-dollar casino resorts, designed to attract visitors from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Resorts World Sentosa has already opened its casino and some of its hotels. One of its other drawcards, South-East Asia's first Universal Studios theme park, is set to open this month.

Marina Bay Sands, located in the heart of the financial district, said it would open its first phase including a casino in April.

In 2009, visitor arrivals in Singapore fell 4.3 per cent year-on-year to 9.7 million, while tourism receipts dropped 19 per cent to 12.4 billion Singapore dollars.

However, in December tourist arrivals in Singapore rose 9.4 per cent year-on-year to reach a record high of 971,000 for a single month.

In January, 908,000 tourists visited the city-state, up 17.6 per cent year-on-year, representing the highest number ever recorded in the month of January, according to the board.

'We certainly are hopeful that the rebound now that we are seeing is a clear one and that the momentum that we are also seeing will continue,' said Aw.

Asia was of particular importance for Singapore's tourism, she said, noting that Asian countries accounted for seven of the top ten nationalities visiting Singapore.

'We believe that that number will in fact increase in the years to come,' since Asia was leading the recovery of the worldwide economy, Aw said.