SINGAPORE CUTS HOTEL LEVY TO BOOST F1 CROWD

SINGAPORE, March 6 (Bernama) -- Singapore authorities are cutting the
five-night Formula One levy on hotels by one night to help boost the crowd to
the Singapore-leg of the race this September.

"This is a special measure for hotels this year, taking into consideration
the current economic downturn," according to the republic's Trade and Industry
Ministry and the Singapore Tourism Board which announced the reduction in a
statement Friday.

However, the rates for the hotel levy for this year would remain the same as
last year's.

Hotels facing the trackside have to pay 30 percent of the total revenues
from rooms and room packages, and other tourist hotels have to pay 20 percent
during the race period from Sept 24 to Sept 27.

The Singapore F1 race, which runs on public roads last year, attracted over
40,000 overseas visitors and generated S$168 million (S$1=RM2.37) in tourism
receipts.

STB said apart from the substantial economic benefits, the republic's
hosting of the F1 race last year had generated invaluable branding for Singapore
as a tourism destination.

-- BERNAMA