Singapore intensifies tourism links with RP

With the growing number of Cebuanos traveling to Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board aims to sustain its stronghold of the Cebu market through a road show at the SM City Cebu Atrium recently.

STB area director for Philippines and Brunei Lynelle Seow said the Philippines ranks ninth of Singapore’s top tourism market.

Last year, Singapore had 10.3 million tourist arrivals and Filipinos were one of these foreign tourists.

Seow said they recorded a 27 percent increase of Cebuano travelers last year vis-à-vis the previous year.

There were more than 20,000 Cebuanos who visited Singapore last year representing a 5.2 percent-market share of the total tourist arrivals.

Seow said that the increase may be attributed to the growing awareness of Cebuanos over the things to do and visit in Singapore such as shopping, entertainment and family-oriented sights and experiences.

She also attributed this to the establishment of more direct flights from Cebu to Singapore via Cebu Pacific, which flies four times a week and Silk Air, which flies six times a week.

Seow is expecting that by holding a road how in Cebu they may be able to increase their Cebuano tourist arrivals this year especially that Christmas is fast approaching.

“Cebuanos are a very big potential market to our tourism efforts and we want to grow the awareness of Singapore to Cebuanos some more,” said Seow.

She said that it is the “juxtaposition” of the East and West influences and culture that has made Singapore very unique, that’s why it has been very attractive to foreign tourists.

And as a destination for shopping and entertainment, Singapore is very much ideal for Cebuano travelers who are usually in the lookout for activities that they can enjoy, added Seow.

“Cebuanos and Singaporeans have a lot of things in common so there are many familiar things they can find in Singapore that they will enjoy. Singapore, like Cebu is a vibrant city where you can experience culture, entertainment and we got good food and shopping too,” she shared.

The peak season for Singapore’s tourism sector are usually in April, November and December and this is the reason why STB set their road show this month so that they can attract tourists to come for their holiday vacation or their early Christmas shopping spree.

Before having the road show, Seow said that they have already established collaboration with Cebu’s travel industry players and just recently they have met with Cebu-based travel agents to give updates on the developments of Singapore’s tourism.

Seow said that from this year until 2012, there are several “exciting” developments that will happen in Singapore with tourism-related projects that will be undertaken such as the Universal Studios theme park, the Marina Bay Sands, which will showcase underwater restaurants, art and science museums, and casino and the Resorts World at Sentosa.

She said that STB will “innovate their tourism offer to maximize these new tourism-related attractions and they need to strengthen their network of partners from the travel industry.