Singapore eyes more short-haul visitors: tourism board
Singapore aims to attract visitors from nearby countries and regions as it reopens its doors after the pandemic, a top tourism official at the city-state said. Andrew Phua, executive director of the Singapore Tourism Board, said visitor arrivals from Hong Kong reached 152,000 in the first half of the year, around two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels. But he said factors such as limited flight capacity could hinder a full recovery. "In terms of projection of the future, we feel that this is dependent on many factors, such as the restoration of flight capacity, global economic and political headwinds, as well as the ability of [creating] new experiences and products," he said.  Phua said efforts were already under way to make the Lion City an attractive destination for short-haul visitors, such as the opening of new museums and hotels. An Indian tourist Shalili, who recently spent four days in Singapore, said she's attracted by Singapore's cultural diversity. “There’s Chinatown and there’s Haji Lane, and they’re two very culturally different places in the same place,” she said. Her friend, Brinda, said the city-state did a good job promoting tourism. “I don’t think Hong Kong’s tourism is as publicised, so we’re not aware of the amazing things that Hong Kong has to offer. But Singapore’s tourism is much better advertised, like Universal Studios [in Singapore] is a world attraction,” she said. A Singapore resident Steph said locals stand to benefit from a strong tourism industry too. “That's where the interchange of cultures happens. I think that's what Singapore has thrived upon, like diversity, intermingling and vibrancy,” she said. Terence Ho, an associate professor from the National University of Singapore, noted that travellers are staying in Singapore longer than before the pandemic.  He also said the Singapore government took steps to support the tourism trade during the hard times of the pandemic, such as handing out vouchers to local residents to explore the city. “This was to stimulate domestic tourism and to keep the sort of attractions going, and this provided the industry with a lot of support during the period,” he told RTHK. “There were also industry grants to develop new tourism products and to raise the skills and capabilities of the tourism industry professionals, and all this was to also prepare for the eventual reopening and recovery.” Ho added that Singapore has the potential to develop into an entertainment hub. “I think we've always been a venue for both sporting events and concerts, but I think the recent sale of tickets for Taylor Swift and Coldplay really captured the imagination because these are very high-profile artists at the height of their popularity,” he said.   Phua believes the presence of well-known entertainers will drive Singapore's overall economic momentum. “What is important is when these concerts are held in Singapore, there is also an economic spin-off to our retail, to our food and beverage, and even to our hotels. The total impact that it gives to the country in terms of tourism performance and economic spin-off is very great,” he said.