SINGAPORE EARNS S$18.8 BIL FROM TOURISM IN 2010

SINGAPORE, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Singapore's tourism receipts for 2010 was
estimated at S$18.8 billion (US$14.7 billion) exceeding the year's forecast
range of between S$17.5 billion to S$18.5 billion.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said Thursday all components of tourism
receipts grew by double-digits last year, with shopping, sightseeing and
entertainment and accommodation making up 61 per cent of it.

The high growth of 49 per cent tourism receipts was attributed to higher per
capita spending and strong international visitor arrivals due to the positive
economic sentiment, and the opening of two integrated resorts, the Resort World
Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands Singapore, last year, STB said in a statement.

It said international visitor arrivals to Singapore reached 11.6 million
last year, registering a year-on-year increase of 20 per cent.

STB also said Singapore's top five international visitor-generating markets
last year were Indonesia (2,305,000), China (1,171,000), Australia (1,037,000),
Malaysia (880,000) and India (829,000).

These five markets accounted for 53 per cent of total international visitor
arrivals for 2010.

In 2010, Malaysia (+36 per cent), Thailand (+35 per cent), South Korea (+33
per cent), Hong Kong (+32 per cent), and Indonesia (+32 per cent) registered the
highest growth rates among the top 15 markets.

The STB also said, gazetted hotel revenue, was estimated at S$1.9 billion in
2010, up by 21.8 per cent against 2009.