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Goh |
Singapore is undergoing a tremendous amount of transformation in 2010. This year, the Southeast Asia destination will welcome the openings of its first integrated resort casinos (IRs) — Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa — and by the end of 2011, the city will be home to a new International Cruise Terminal (ICT) and a unique 250-acre Gardens By The Bay project and park. Other new developments and events taking place in Singapore include this year’s Youth Olympic Games and the Fullerton Heritage waterfront project. To find out more about the Lion City’s tourism future, TravelAge West talked to Kershing Goh, regional director for the Americas.
Singapore seems to be a hot destination for 2010. Can you tell me why this year is one of the best yet for agents to send their clients to Singapore, as opposed to other countries in the same region?
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Singapore is undergoing a rapid transformation in 2010. // © Singapore Tourism Board 2010 |
Perceptions about Singapore are changing dramatically as the Lion City undergoes a historic transformation in 2010. More than 150,000 meeting attendees are expected to descend on Singapore this year for events already booked at the soon-to-open Marina Bay Sands, the region’s first integrated resort and casino. Moreover, Resorts World Sentosa, which opened in February 2010 and has a capacity to host 35,000 attendees at a single event, already has confirmed 30 events — the largest of which will attract 4,000 of the world’s top business leaders.
There is growing competition from Thailand, Malaysia, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, etc., which all have brand-new facilities. So within Asia, it is easy for anyone to just be a hotel or convention facility. But Singapore is striving and succeeding to offer something that is uniquely our own — whether it is exceptional cuisine, superior service or our well-connected community. These are just a few of the reasons why Singapore was chosen as the host city of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.
What, in your opinion, makes Singapore stand out from other Southeast Asia and Asia destinations?
What makes Singapore different, beyond great facilities, are our connections and leadership. In addition, FutureBrand’s latest Country Brand Index named Singapore as the Best Country Brand for “Shopping” and “Easiest To Do Business In.” Also, Singapore was among the top five destinations in the categories of Best Country Brand for “Business,” “Conferences,” “Advanced Technology,” “Standard of Living,” “Fine Dining,” “Ease of Travel” and “Best New Country for Business.”
Looking back on 2009, how would you evaluate Singapore’s tourism numbers and where would you say Singapore tourism stands right now in terms of travel demand?
There hasn’t been any destination which hasn’t been affected by the weakened global economy in some way. But I’m very pleased that Singapore exceeded the government’s forecasts, which predicted up to 9.5 million visitors. We welcomed 9.7 million visitors in 2009, which was just 4.3 percent less than in 2008.
There seems to be so much development taking place in Singapore right now —especially with the two new resort casinos. Is that something that will continue? How has this had an effect on the overall tourism experience in the country?
Singapore’s strategic objective for embarking on the development of the IRs is to broaden our leisure and entertainment offerings to enhance Singapore’s reputation as a must-visit destination for leisure and business visitors. Both integrated resorts are large-scale iconic developments with a compelling mix of MICE facilities, themed attractions, entertainment and performance venues, hotel, retail and gaming.
Singapore’s tourism landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years, allowing us to offer many new products and experiences. The two IRs, coupled with exciting events and developments such as the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, the world’s first Formula One night race, the revitalized Singapore River and Orchard Road, and further down the pipeline, the Gardens by the Bay and the ICT, will collectively transform Singapore into a compelling and exciting destination for all visitors. We will continue to build on these world-class attractions, events and venues and deliver a holistic experience.
Can you tell me a little bit about Resorts World Sentosa and what makes it so unique?
Resorts World Sentosa will be home to Southeast Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park and the largest interactive marine animal facility and aquarium in the world, Marine Life Park.
What makes the Universal Studios Singapore theme park unique?
Universal Studios Singapore will be Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park, offering 24 attractions, 18 of which are original or adapted exclusively for Singapore. Two of the attractions will be the world’s first. Themed after DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster movie “Madagascar,” Madagascar: A Crate Adventure will be one of the mega-attractions in Universal Studios. The theme park will also be home to the world’s first Far Far Away Castle, a landmark in the box-office hit “Shrek” series. The 131-foot high castle will house attractions such as Shrek 4D, Donkey Live and Magic Potion Spin. Resorts World Sentosa will bring together the best of Universal Studios theme parks in Hollywood, Calif., Orlando, Fla., and Osaka, Japan, with seven themed zones that promise an enthralling Ride The Movies experience at Universal Studios Singapore. The large-scale tropical resort will transform Sentosa, Singapore’s island resort, into a destination of choice for families.
What can you tell us about the new International Cruise Terminal? What types of cruise ships/lines are you hoping to attract to the terminal?
The intention of this new cruise terminal is to realize Singapore’s aspirations in becoming the cruise hub of the region. Cruising has only really started to take off in the past few years in Southeast Asia, so there are some very interesting new developments ahead in this region. The ICT, whose plans should be completed by the end of 2011, will double Singapore’s berth capacity and enable more cruise ships to homeport and call on Singapore and Asia. With the ICT’s deep waters, a large turning basin and lack of height restrictions, the world’s largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships being built now, will be able to call at Singapore and enjoy dedicated cruise terminal facilities. It will complement the existing Singapore Cruise Centre at the Southern Waterfront precinct.
Can you also touch upon Marina Bay Sands?
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A rendering of Marina Bay Sands at night // © Marina Bay Sands 2010 |
A centerpiece in our downtown Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands is expected to enhance Singapore’s position as a leading destination for MICE. The integrated resort will combine roughly 393,700 square feet of world-class convention and exhibition facilities, a luxury hotel, an iconic ArtScience Museum, state-of-the-art theaters, entertainment, gaming and a variety of shopping and dining outlets in one landmark location — a strong draw for event organizers. Phase one will open on April 27 and phase two, which includes Sands SkyPark, the Event Plaza along Marina Bay, more shops and additional dining nightlife options, will open on June 23 as part of the resort’s grand opening.
What is the tourism board doing this year to encourage large numbers of MICE visitors?
The tourism board continues to work closely with business events industry partners and Singapore Inc. agencies to grow the number, scale and stature of business events staged here, and ensure that the MICE sector continues to power ahead as a key driver of tourism growth in Singapore. Going forward, we have built up a robust calendar of business events that will sustain the health of the MICE industry.
Looking ahead, Singapore’s business events industry will continue to grow in tandem with the transformation of the tourism industry. The two new IRs and the ICT, which are coming on line in 2010 and 2011 respectively, will not only augment our existing business events venues and meet the evolving needs of the MICE industry, but also offer a rich spectrum of compelling and unique experiences for all business and leisure visitors. The growing global interest in environmental issues has also fueled an increasing demand for sustainable and green solutions by MICE service providers, and nature-based venues such as the Marina Barrage and HortPark have become more sought after as an alternative to conventional venues.
Singapore also continually seeks to reinvent itself to deliver uniquely personal experiences. New tourism developments such as the rejuvenated Orchard Road, coupled with an exciting calendar of entertainment events such as the Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix and Singapore GP Season, will collectively enhance our appeal as a leisure destination to complement our standing as an award-winning MICE destination.
What other aspects of Singapore add to the destination’s draw?
Singapore’s local fare is increasingly gaining recognition worldwide. KF Seetoh, a local Singapore foodie, recently appeared in an interview on “The Martha Stewart Show” to introduce laksa, a popular spicy noodle soup from Peranakan culture that is a blend of Chinese and Malay elements found in Singapore. Even Grammy award-winning rap artist and actor Ludacris was so impressed with Singaporean chef Chris Yeo’s cuisine that he opened a restaurant, Straits Atlanta, in his hometown of Atlanta and has since received high acclaim. With events like the annual Singapore Food Festival, agents can encourage travelers to try Singaporean cuisine, which reflects the melting pot of cultures found only in Singapore.
How is the tourism board working with travel agents to send clients to Singapore?
With our ongoing Singapore Specialist Program, we will continue to educate and incentivize agents to sell Singapore and to stay apprised of the new developments that they can recommend to their clients. We also work with tour operators and travel consortiums to reach their network of agents. Singapore is also part of Asia Now, a partnership with seven Asian tourist offices to collectively market Asia as a compelling destination for consumers and travel agents.
Singapore Tourism Board
www.visitsingapore-usa.com
