BETTER PERFORMANCE BY SINGAPORE TOURISM SECTOR IN 2010

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, March 5 (Bernama) -- Singapore is expected to receive 11.5
million to 12.5 million visitors and S$17.5 billion to S$18.5 billion in tourism
receipts this year, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The board said the optimistic forecasts for Singapore came on the back of a
positive outlook for the tourism industry globally this year, with Asia expected
to lead the growth, as well as a rebound in the performance of the country's
tourism sector seen in the final quarter of 2009.

STB Friday shared its plans for 2010 and beyond during the Tourism Industry
Conference, themed "Redesigning the Tourism Experience", held at Resorts World
Sentosa here.

Last year, the city-state received only about 9.7 million visitors and an
estimated S$12.4 billion in tourism receipts.

The STB also announced the evolution of Singapore's destination brand, from
"Uniquely Singapore" to "YourSingapore", at the conference attended by about
800 industry partners.

Commenting on the outlook for the industry, STB Chief Executive Aw Kah Peng
said despite last year being an exceptionally challenging one, the local tourism
industry weathered it credibly.

"With the global travel industry expected to recover this year and with
Singapore offering an even more compelling suite of tourism experiences,
including the two integrated resorts (IRs) that open this year, we are confident
that the sector will be able to register its best performance to date," she
said.

STB said the opening of IRs, Resorts World Sentosa last month and Marina
Bay Sands in April, would raise the bar in terms of what visitors could
experience in Singapore ranging from attractions to accommodation, dining to
retail options, and MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) venues
to gaming.

The two IRs would complement the exciting year round calendar of leisure and
business events that include new events such as the Asia Fashion Exchange, the
Youth Olympic Games, SINGTEL Singapore Formula One Grand Prix and Singapore
International Water Week.

-- BERNAMA