|
|
 |
|
Viewing report
|
|
|
|
Singapore Tourism Report Q1 2011
Business Monitor International, Feb 2011, Pages: 52
The Singapore Tourism Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, tourism associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Singapore's tourism industry.
In 2010 Arrivals to Singapore soared during 2010. Data for the first 11 months of the year showed that a total of 10,511,175 tourists visited the Lion state over the period, an increase of 20.7% year on year (y-o-y). This strong performance reflects the improving global economic environment, as well as the positive impact of Singapore’s new integrated resorts at Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also identified improved tourist sentiment and tactical promotions by airlines and hotels as other key growth drivers over the course of the past 12 months. Further bolstering arrival numbers across 2010 were Singapore’s hosting of the first Youth Olympic Games in August and the Singapore Grand Prix, held on the final weekend of September.
Given the stellar performance seen by inbound tourism over the first 11 months of 2010, BMI has have made a slight upwards adjustment to the expectations for the full year. It is now believed that growth of 18% for the year is appropriate, up from a previous estimate of 16% growth. This would take total arrival numbers to 11.45mn for the year.
Looking forward, it is believed that Singapore’s tourism success story should continue into 2011, as more people choose to visit the new integrated resorts, particularly from neighbouring Asian countries. For now, BMI is targeting growth in tourist arrivals of 12% for 2011, which may seem cautious, but reflects the view that risks to global economic recovery remain. Moreover, austerity measures in Europe and the US may impact on arrivals to Singapore from these two key source tourism markets. Should economic data surprise on the upside during the first two quarters of 2011 however, then it would be expected to make upwards revisions to the 12% growth in arrivals forecast as 2011 unfolds.
New Trade Body To Develop Regional Cruise Industry
To help the development of the local cruise industry, in late 2010, the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) – in partnership with Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Development Company – announced the establishment of the Asia Cruise Terminal Association, a grouping of 12 cruise terminals across Asia. This new trade body should do much to help cruise terminal operators cooperate in infrastructure development and promote the services on offer in the region.
The chairman of the SCC, Soo Kok Leng, believes that total cruise passenger throughput across Asia could reach between six and seven million by 2015, basing this estimate on one-tenth of the Asian region becoming middle class by this date and using the same penetration rate for cruising as the US (3.2% of the population). So clearly, this sub-sector of tourism will play an ever more important role for Singapore moving forward.
At the current time, construction work is continuing at the site of the city state’s new International Cruise Terminal (ICT) at Marina South, which is due to be completed by 2011. Helping Singapore is the fact that the opening of Hong Kong’s rival Kai Tak cruise terminal has been delayed, with the first berth at the new terminal now scheduled to be ready to receive cruise ships from mid-2013 onwards. This gives Singapore a crucial head start in being able to attract cruise ship operators.
Several of the world’s leading cruise companies, such as Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O and Silversea Cruises, have made Singapore a home port for their Asian operations. According to Mr Soo, Star Cruises has 12 of its 17 cruise vessels sailing within the region, with the cruise operator also actively marketing Asian cruises in the new markets of India and the Middle East.
In 2010, Singapore’s Changi International Airport handled over 40mn passengers, passing this mark for the first time during mid-December. Already, the airport had seen a 13.8% annual increase in passenger numbers over the first 11 months of the year, to 37,974,903 passengers. Over the same period, the airport handled 1,657,978 tonnes of cargo, up 11.7% y-o-y. The airport also welcomed nine new airlines over the course of the year, including Philippines carrier Southeast Asian Airlines and Russian airline Transaero. In January 2011, Air Macau commenced a twice-weekly service linking Singapore to Macau. In total, Changi now serves 101 airlines and connects with over 200 cities around the world. Changi Airport continues to be recognised across the airport industry for its world-class facilities and attention to customer care. In September 2010, the airport won ‘Best Airport in the World’ for the 23rd year running in the Business Traveller Awards. This brought its total for the year to 16 (as of September 2010), having previously won 27 ‘Best Airport’ awards in 2009.
|
|
|
|
