MALAYSIAN VISA CARDHOLDERS AMONG TOP SPENDERS IN SINGAPORE

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysians were among the top three foreign
visitors who used the Visa card for their spending in Singapore during the days
leading to the opening day of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

Visa said Thursday the Singapore economy saw a boost in foreign visitor
spending prior to the Games which was officially opened on Aug 14.

In the lead-up and first two days of the Games (Aug 11 to 15), more than
US$42.5 million was spent by international visitors to the city-state on Visa
cards, an increased of 45 per cent from the same period in 2009, Visa said.

Topping the list of spending on Visa-card were visitors from the United
States, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom,
China, Hong Kong, India and Thailand.

Visa data showed more than US$8.3 million was spent by international
visitors on Visa-branded payment cards on the Games opening day.

The money spent by visitors on their Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards on
the day showed an increase of nearly 50 per cent over the same day in 2009.

For the first time at an Olympic Games, Visa prepaid cards had been issued
with all Games tickets.
-- BERNAMA