Tourism In Singapore

introduction

• Singapore officially the Republic of Singapore, is a city-state island country off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, in Southeast Asia. It is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. Singapore is the world's fourth leading financial centre and a cosmopolitan world city, playing a key role in international trade and finance. The port of Singapore is one of the five busiest ports in the world.

economy• Singapore has a highly developed market-based

economy, based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the Four Asian Tigers. The economy depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing, which constituted 26% of Singapore's GDP in 2005 and includes significant electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences sectors. In 2006 Singapore produced about 10% of the world's foundry wafer output. The country is the world's fourth leading financial centre Singapore has one of the busiest ports in the world and is the world's fourth largest foreign-exchange trading centre after London, New York and Tokyo. The World Bank ranks Singapore as the world's top logistics hub.

TOURISM• Singapore is a popular travel destination, contributing to

the importance of its tourism industry. Total visitor arrivals were 10.2 million in 2007. To attract more tourists, the government has decided to legalise gambling and to allow two casino resorts (called Integrated Resorts) to be developed at Marina South and Sentosa in 2005. To compete with regional rivals like Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, the government has announced that the city area would be transformed into a more exciting place by lighting up the civic and commercial buildings.

Food has also been promoted as an attraction for tourists, and the Singapore Food Festival is held every July to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. Other annual events in Singapore include the Singapore Sun Festival, the Christmas Light Up, and the Singapore Jewel Festival.Singapore is promoting itself as a medical tourism hub: about 200,000 foreigners seek medical care in the country each year, and Singapore medical services aim to serve one million foreign patients annually by 2012 and generate USD 3 billion in revenue.

EFFECTS OF TOURISM Tourism helps the economy of many countries around the world.

The growth of tourism in one country translates to flourishing local businesses, services and employment opportunities. The onset of the global economic recession has affected the tourism industry of almost all nations who thrive from it. Tourism problem has truly brought a major concern not only to the economy of first world countries but similarly to other countries following behind.

When tourism peaked during the last few decades, it opened the doors to many business owners to put up key businesses that will sustain the increasing tourism growth of their country. The tourism industry caters to different sets of tourists. First are tourists who travel for business purposes. These are members of multi-national companies and other private entrepreneurs who visit neighboring countries to secure deals, implement and invest on projects or maintain current business ventures in that country.

The Economic and Social Impact of Tourism

Today, tourism is one of the largest and dynamically developing sectors ofexternal economic activities. Its high growth and development rates,

considerablevolumes of foreign currency inflows, infrastructure development, and introductionof new management and educational experience actively affect various sectorsof economy, which positively contribute to the social and economic developmentof the country as a whole.Most highly developed western countries, such as Switzerland, Austria,and France have accumulated a big deal of their social and economic welfare onprofits from tourism.According to recent statistics, tourism provides about 10% of the world’sincome and employs almost one tenth of the world’s workforce. All considered,tourism’s actual and potential economic impact is astounding. Many peopleemphasize the positive aspects of tourism as a source of foreign exchange, a wayto balance foreign trade, an “industry without chimney” — in short, manna fromheaven. 

Economic Indicator  

• GDP (Official Exchange Rate)-$163.1 billion

• CPI-110.4• Industrial Production Index-104.9• Total Exports-$268.9 billion• Total Imports-$245 billion

World Tourism Organization UNWTO 

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.

The Organization encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its negative social and environmental impacts.

Singapore Attractions

• Singapore is a stellar city when it comes to attractions: Almost everyone will have seen an image of the city’s symbol, the Merlion. The impressive Singapore flyer and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark are fast taking on iconic proportions as Raffles Hotel has done for over 100 years.

• Science and religion are amply represented by the Science Centre and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Little India and Chinatown are both great gastronomic destinations and while Singapore Botanic Gardens is a gem, the Zoo & Night Safari is also highly recommended for all newcomers to Singapore.

Marina bay sands

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land.

Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay, is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two five-star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.

Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park located within Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, Singapore. It was a key component of Genting's bid for the right to build Singapore's second integrated resort. On 8 December 2006, the Singapore government announced that the consortium had won the bid. Construction of the theme park and the rest of the resort started on 19 April 2007. It is the second Universal Studios theme park to open in Asia (Japan being the first), and the first in Southeast Asia. The official plans for the park were unveiled to the public when Universal Studios Singapore released a park map to the public on 20 October 2009. Universal Studios Singapore has since attracted more than 2 million visitors in the 9 months from its opening.

CLARKE QUAY

Presently, five blocks of restored warehouses house various restaurants and nightclubs. There are also moored Chinese junks (tongkangs) that have been refurbished into floating pubs and restaurants,G-MAX reverse bungee, the first in Singapore

CONCLUSION

All those people who are planning for a holiday in Asia, Singapore form the main choice of millions of tourists. Sometimes the number of tourists even exceeds the number of people in the city. Excellent modern infrastructure, cleanliness, ethnic cultural groups and friendly environment all contribute in attracting and welcoming Singapore tourism. It presents a unique tourists destination in itself, right from the food, amusements parks, gardens, museums to vibrant nightlife and sightseeing. It is difficult to unravel all the attractions of Singapore, but some of them are worth visiting.

Thank you