Debated in Parliament on 4 Oct 2022.
Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the recent strengthening of the Singapore dollar that is making it more expensive for foreigners to visit, what future plans does the Government have to further boost tourism inflows into Singapore.
Singapore's tourism industry is recovering well. In the first eight months of 2022, Singapore received three million visitor arrivals, nearly 20 times more, compared to the same period in 2021. When compared to nine key competitor cities, Singapore remains the top destination for both leisure and business travellers in the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Brand Health Survey of Singapore's top 15 markets.
Singapore does not compete for international travellers based on cost alone. Our value proposition rests on the quality of our products, services, experiences, efficiency and connectivity to the region and the world. At the start of this year, STB outlined its strategy to grow the tourism industry called Tourism 203X (T203X). This is built on several key pillars. These include growing our position as the Global-Asia node for business tourism; injecting more "fun" into our events and experiences; becoming one of the world's most sustainable urban destinations; and becoming an urban wellness haven.
STB is anchoring these activities through SingapoReimagine, its global marketing campaign to keep Singapore top-of-mind. The SingapoReimagine Marketing Programme (SMP) helps our tourism and lifestyle industries deliver innovative marketing campaigns in overseas markets to strengthen Singapore's appeal as a choice destination for business and leisure travel. STB will also continue to deepen its strategic partnerships with airlines, travel agents and financial institutions, which can help drive visitor arrivals and spend in Singapore.
We will continue to strengthen Singapore's attractiveness as a travel destination and support our tourism industry to offer unique, quality experiences and products to the world.
PAPERCUTS